Insane swimming image proves Katie Ledecky is ‘greatest of all time’

American swimming freak Katie Ledecky has left jaws on the floor as she destroyed her rivals and rewrote the record books.

No one was even close to Katie Ledecky.

American superfish Katie Ledecky has equalled Michael Phelps for the most gold medals in individual events in world swimming championships history with yet another dominant 1500m freestyle win.

Ledecky was the red-hot favourite to win the 1500m freestyle on Tuesday night in Fukuoka, Japan and she delivered once again.

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The 26-year-old took an early lead and was never challenged, touching the wall in a time of 15:26.27, her third fastest time in the event.

In a sign of her dominance in one of her pet events, Ledecky finished more than half a lap of the pool ahead of her nearest rival. No other swimmer was in the picture when she finished the race.

It’s a sight swimming fans have become used to, but they were once again in awe of Ledecky’s sheer contempt for the world class field.

Katie Ledecky just won the 1500m freestyle World Title by so much that she was the only person on camera when she touched the wall.

Once again, Katie swimming so fast that she looks like she's the only one swimming.

Greatest freestyler of all-time, no contest. pic.twitter.com/xSUg7M6gJX

— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) July 25, 2023

Today in Japan Katie Ledecky won her fifth straight gold medal in the 1500m free (the mile swim), the race where she holds the top 16 fastest times ever. She was the only swimmer in the frame when she touched the wall and then she had to wait 17 seconds for someone else to finish pic.twitter.com/qN07Bc5Alh

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) July 25, 2023

Swimming🏊‍♂️ - Most individual gold🥇 medals at the World Aquatics Championships

1⃣5⃣ - Michael Phelps🇺🇸
1⃣5⃣ - Katie Ledecky🇺🇸#AQUAFukuoka23#Fukuoka23pic.twitter.com/P74vDoQ3nS

— Gracenote Olympic (@GracenoteGold) July 25, 2023

Italy’s Simona Quadrella was second in a time of 15:43.31, more than 17 seconds behind Ledecky. China’s Li Bingjie was third in 15:45.31.

Australia’s Lani Pallister started well and was swimming in third spot for much of the race, but faded to finish fifth in a time of 15:49.17.

The victory saw Ledecky draw level with Phelps with 15 gold medals in individual events at world swimming championships.

Ledecky was in a class of her own. (Photo by François-Xavier MARIT / AFP)

Ledecky has now won the 1500m world title in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2022 and 2023.

She will likely surpass Phelps if she wins the 800m freestyle later in the program as expected.

Ledecky claimed another slice of history, becoming the first swimmer to win two events on five separate occasions at world championships.

She has now achieved the feat in both the 1500m and 800m freestyle.

Already considered the greatest freestyler and female swimmer in history, Ledecky has signalled her intention to swim on to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Ledecky has won four gold medals in the 400m freestyle but Ariarne Titmus has taken over as the queen of the middle distance event in recent years.

The Aussie Olympic champion returned to her best form, reclaiming her world record in a blistering swim that made Ledecky and Canadian teen Summer McIntosh look like mere mortals.

Winning never gets old for Katie Ledecky. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Ledecky and Titmus will meet again in the 800m freestyle later in the week.

Phelps is still the most decorated Olympian of all time but his records in world swimming are slowly being broken.

On the opening night of the world titles, Frenchman Leon Marchand smashed Phelps’ 400m individual medley mark by over a second.

It was the longest standing swimming world record and Phelps’ last remaining individual world record.

Phelps first set the 400m medley record in 2003 and had held it for 20 years.

Elsewhere, Kaylee McKeown bounced back from her disqualification in the 200m medley to win the 100m backstroke and rewrite the history books in the process.