Katie Ledecky Wins 1500m Freestyle Gold, Sets Female World Title Record

Katie Ledecky secured her seventh world title in the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, marking her 22nd gold medal and 28th world championship medal overall, surpassing Ryan Lochte to become second only to Michael Phelps. She finished the race in 15:26.44, well ahead of Italy’s Simona Quadarella and Australia’s Lani Pallister, maintaining her unbeaten streak in the event since her debut in 2013. Ledecky, who recently broke her own 800m freestyle world record, expressed her passion for the race and her intent to continue competing without breaks. In other events, Australia's Kaylee McKeown won the women's 100m backstroke, defeating American Regan Smith in a highly competitive race. Additionally, France's Yohann Ndoye-Brouard claimed bronze in the men's 100m backstroke, setting a new French record, while South Africa's Pieter Coetze won the men's 100m backstroke gold. The championships showcased strong performances from European swimmers, with Romanian David Popovici also highlighted for his excellence in men's swimming.