Swimming-Ledecky smashes short-course 1,500m freestyle world record

FILE PHOTO: Swimming - FINA World Championships - Duna Arena, Budapest, Hungary - June 25, 2022 Gold medallist in the women's 800m freestyle Katie Ledecky of the U.S. is presented with an award for the best female swimmer REUTERS/Antonio Bronic/File Photo

TORONTO (Reuters) - American swimmer Katie Ledecky broke the women's short-course world record in the 1,500 metre freestyle at the FINA Swimming World Cup in Toronto on Saturday, shaving nearly 10 seconds off the previous mark set by Germany's Sarah Wellbrock.

Ledecky, a 10-times Olympic medallist, led from wire to wire on her way to capture the gold in a time of 15:08.24, which was more than 40 seconds faster than second-place finisher Beatriz Dizotti of Brazil (15:48.82).