Ledecky breaks own world record in 800m free, Canada's Kharun wins 100m fly at Tyr Pro Meet
Montrealer sets his 2nd Pro Series Swim record in as many days in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Katie Ledecky broke her nine-year-old world record in the 800 metres to highlight Saturday's events at the Tyr Pro Swim Series meet in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The 28-year-old American churned through the water in 8:04.12, which eclipsed her world record time of 8:04.79 accomplished at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Ledecky had not broken any world records since 2018, but she foreshadowed Saturday's performance by swimming the world's second-fastest 1,500 on Wednesday and delivering her second-fastest 400 on Thursday.
Ledecky has earned Olympic gold in the 800 four consecutive times and intends to go for a fifth at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Jillian Cox took second in 8:23.58 while Claire Weinstein was third in 8:26.06. The 18-year-old Weinstein joined Ledecky, Paige Madden and Erin Gimmell on the United States' 800 free relay team that took silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Gretchen Walsh broke her own world record in the 100 butterfly Saturday — twice. She edged her previous best of 55.18 during the morning prelims (55.09), then shattered that mark during the afternoon finals (54.60).
Canadian star Summer McIntosh was originally scheduled to compete in the 100m butterfly but did not race.
Honestly Katie Ledecky swimming with a glass of chocolate milk perfectly balanced on her head might be more mind blowing than winning seven Olympic golds…<br><br> <a href="https://t.co/zNQVJ2N6Xz">pic.twitter.com/zNQVJ2N6Xz</a>
—@TansuYegenKharun wins 100 fly in personal-best time
Canada's Ilya Kharun set his second Pro Swim Series record in as many days on Saturday, winning the men's 100m butterfly in 50.42.
The 20-year-old from Montreal won by over a second-and-a-half while clocking a personal best, touching the wall ahead of Germany's Bjoern Kammann (51.95).
PERSONAL BEST ILYA KHARUN <br><br>Canada’s Ilya Kharun wins the 100m butterfly in TYR Pro Series record and personal best time of 50.42.<br><br>He won bronze in Paris in this event in a time of 50.45. The 19-year-old just keeps getting faster. <a href="https://t.co/wWdTYq5TfO">pic.twitter.com/wWdTYq5TfO</a>
—@Devin_HerouxKharun, who took bronze in the event at Paris 2024, broke American Shaine Casas's previous record of 50.80.
Kharun won the 50m butterfly in Canadian-record time on Friday.
Fellow Canadian Kylie Masse was third in the women's 100m backstroke final on Saturday with a time of 58.90, finishing behind world record holder Regan Smith (57.46) and Katharine Berkoff (58.79) of the United States.
With files from CBC Sports
