This article is part our Tokyo Olympics series.The 1,500-meter women's swim was officially introduced Wednesday at the Olympics in Tokyo. This meant that NBCs camera operators had to experience a challenge previously unknown to few: They had to film Katie Ledeckys race, making it look close. Dan Hicks, an announcer, said that she had a trail group consisting of three swimmers below her. However, about halfway through the race, the broadcast switched to a narrower angle, showing Ledecky swimming as though she was in an empty pool.Combining her history in the 800-meter freestyle and 1,500-meter freestyle, which she will race this week, Ledeckys dominance is unmatched in long-distance swimming. Not to mention the range that allows Ledecky to excel in the 400 and 200-meter relays, of which she won a silver medal Thursday. She didn't have the opportunity to show off what she considers her best event, the mile, until this week. The program was not for women. Because Ledecky's performance in that race has been so impressive, the Olympic committee included it for the Tokyo Games.It is difficult to compare Ledecky's success in this event with any other swimming event, let alone other sports. She won the 1,500-meter race at the 2017 world championships by 19.07 seconds, beating second-place Mireia of Spain. This was her most significant win on a global stage. This margin was larger than the gap between Belmonte's fifth-place finisher and her. Ledecky beat Belmonte by 1.27 seconds for 100 meters. However, she did it 15 times. Comparatively, the margins for victory in the 100-meter women's freestyle race were 0.39, 0.04, 0.18, and 0.55 seconds at the four previous world championships.Ledecky set a new world record in 2018, breaking her own record of 15:20.48. Simona Quadarella from Italy was the fastest female swimmer at 1,500 meters. These deficits are not common for men, as Ledecky's swimmers aren't of her caliber. In 2018, the fastest 1,500-meter men's times were 0.73 seconds apart.FiveThirtyEightLedecky's margin of victory at Olympics was 4.07 seconds less than her previous record-setting races. Her gold medal time of 15.37.34 was the fastest by an Olympic athlete. Ledecky's time was faster than any woman who has competed internationally in this event, even though her closest competitors finished in the final with times in the top 25 all time. She has now clocked each of the 13 fastest 1,500m times in history. The feat was made even more impressive by the fact that Ledecky participated in the finals on the same night she competed in the 200-meter freestyle.Ledecky swims alone in most events. Top 25 fastest times in women's 1,500-meter freestyle swims Rk Swimmer Country Year 1 Katie Ledecky United States 2018 15.20.48 5 Katie Ledecky United States 2015.25.51 7 Katie Ledecky United States 2017.35.65 9 Katie Ledecky United States 2019.15:35.35 11 Katie Ledecky United States 2018.15:35.65 12 Katie Ledecky United States 2020.35.35 7 Katie Ledecky United States 2020.35.53.54 21 Jiahe Wang China 2021.41.41.41.49 2 Katie Ledecky. Source: FINALedecky stated that she was thinking about the American female swimmers before her. They won the race but were not allowed to swim the 1,500-meter Olympic race. American Kate Ziegler was the previous world record holder. She set it at 15 minutes 42.54 in June 2007. Ziegler stated at the time that she would love to see it become an Olympic event. However, Ziegler did not have control over that.Janet Evans, a decorated distance swimmer, held the record prior to Ziegler. She set it in 1988 at 15 minutes 52. After the 1,500-meter race at U.S., Evans wrapped the medal around Ledecky's neck. Swim Trials last month. It's bittersweet because that was Evans' best race. It's a wonderful experience. I love it. She didn't have the chance to add the mile.Record-breaking star power has often sparked improvements in the competition. Ariarne Titmus, from Australia, has won gold in Tokyo's 200-meter and 400m freestyle races. She cites Ledecky as the swimmer who set a new standard. Titmus said that without her, it would be impossible for me to swim the way I do now. People have tried to match her example.After Erica Sullivan won silver in 15:41.41, Ledecky was able to have a teammate in the 1,500-meter. They celebrated by swimming in adjacent lanes. Sullivan later said to NBC that there was a time when she saw Katie ahead of her. It was a moment when she felt the need to give energy. Or several meters ahead of you. You can use it to get back home.FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEight
