It was no surprise when Katie Ledecky won the women’s 800 free Saturday night. It was much more of a surprise when 15 year-old Katie Grimes touched 2nd, bringing back memories of Ledecky’s own rise to prominence on the world stage when she first made the Olympic team in this event at age of 15.
During the post-race press conference, when Katie Grimes was asked how overwhelming the previous 60 minutes or so had been, Grimes simply replied, “very,” and then eventually went on to explain how supportive Ledecky was been in helping her through the ceremonies that followed making the team in the event.
Katie Ledecky described how she told Grimes “you’re the future,” after Grimes got 3rd in the 1500 earlier in the week, but after Grimes qualified for Tokyo by touching 2nd in the 800 tonight, Ledecky told her “you’re the now.”
Ledecky also discussed how she and Simone Manuel made an “informal pact” to stick together and how that bond made it particularly tough to watch what Manuel struggle with training after being diagnosed with overtraining syndrome earlier this year.
Originally reported by James Sutherland
WOMEN’S 800 FREE FINAL
- Katie Ledecky (NCAP), 8:14.62
- Katie Grimes (SAND), 8:20.36
- Haley Anderson (MVN), 8:20.51
It was a tale of two races in the women’s 800 free: Katie Ledecky versus the clock, and then the rest of the field battling for second.
Ledecky asserted herself early, taking off from the gun and running away with her fourth victory of the week in a time of 8:14.62, just under a second off her season-best of 8:13.64 set in March. The time for Ledecky, 24, falls just shy of the top-25 swims in history.
In an exciting race for the second spot, Bella Sims, Erica Sullivan and Haley Anderson all held the position at one point over the first 400 meters. Thing slowly began to separate, on the back-half, with 15-year-old Katie Grimes gradually moving through the field, turning third behind Ledecky and Anderson at the 700.
Grimes, swimming way out in Lane 8, was just a tenth back of Anderson with 50 to go, and made a huge charge down the last length, ultimately touching second in a time of 8:20.36 to Anderson’s 8:20.51. Anderson is almost double Grimes’ age (29 to 15).
Grimes becomes the third Sandpipers of Nevada female swimmer to qualify for the team this week, joining Sims (800 free relay) and Sullivan (1500 free). Grimes also smashed her previous best of 8:31.73 set in the prelims, and now ranks third all-time among 15-16s, trailing only Ledecky and Janet Evans.
Ally McHugh was sixth at the 500 but moved her way up to fourth at the end, edging out Sims (8:23.55) in 8:23.51. Sims, 16, lowers her best time down from 8:27.01 and is now ranks fourth among 15-16s.
Sullivan fell down to sixth in 8:24.02, but still chopped two seconds off her lifetime best.
