INDIANAPOLIS - Nine-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky notched another impressive victory at the US Swimming Championships on Friday, clocking 3min 58.56sec to win the 400m freestyle to add another event to her 2025 World Championships programme.
Ledecky, who had already punched her ticket to the World Championships in Singapore with a victory in the 800m free, was under world record pace at the 200m mark and came home 1.49sec in front of Claire Weinstein -- who led Ledecky in a one-two finish in the 200m free this week.
"I just wanted to put together a solid race, start to finish" Ledecky said after capturing her 32nd national title. "I was definitely hurting the last 100, but overall I'm pretty happy with that."
Ledecky, who is also slated to swim the 1,500m free as the championships conclude in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday, will be heading to worlds in Singapore next month on a high note.
In May she swam the second-fastest 1,500m free in history behind her own world record, her second-best 400 free ever and an 800m free world record.
"It's just a lot of consistency year after year and always believing that I had something more in me ... just kind of trusting that would pay off," she said.
Kate Douglass surged past world record-holder Lilly King in the final 20 meters to win the 100m breaststroke in 1:05.79, three-time Olympic gold medallist King taking second in 1:06.02.
Douglass denied King a victory in what the veteran has said was her last race in a US pool, having announced this season will be her last.
"It's been such a great ride, and can't wait to rep USA this summer," said King, who will have a chance to add to her tally of 11 world titles in Singapore before she says goodbye for good.
King admitted the prospect of racing in front of home fans for the last time brought out some unfamiliar emotions.
"I had a little moment after the race, but this isn't my last meet," she said. "I was trying not to think too much about it ... it was a weird feeling (before the race). That was an interesting thing to deal with for the first time."