There was already zero doubt that Katie Ledecky would qualify for the June 2020 Olympic Trials, but she did it officially on the first day of the 18-month window on Wednesday night.
The five-time Olympic champion comfortably won her trademark event, the 800m freestyle, by 13.76 seconds in 8:14.40 at USA Swimming’s Winter Nationals in Greensboro, N.C. At the 200-meter mark, Ledecky became the first of what will be hundreds of swimmers to qualify for the Olympic Trials.
That’s because she split 2:01.46 for the opening 200m, just under the 200m free trials entry standard of 2:01.