Kate Ziegler BROKE the world record in the womens 1500 15:42.54

I hope someone got video of this and is putting it on YouTube. Next to Phelps' 200 free at worlds, this might be the performance of the year. Wonder how Janet's taking the news. I know my oldest son's division head coach was taping all of the finals. So I am sure he has it. But the bummer is that the local Cox channel had been covering all of the finals swims.... except sunday nights swims when Kate broke the WR. Kevin

She had a great meet setting PR's in the 200 and 400 as well. Too bad the 1500 is not an Olympic event for women but glad that we can keep the 1500 record in the US. What's interesting to me is it looked like she had the long FS Pro on. I have always only seen her racing in the regular recordbreaker suit. I think from the start of the race she was out to break the record last night. And it seemed like many on the deck knew it, too. The whole Nadadore team (the host team), as well as several other teams, were on their feet from before the start of the race. And the announcer was talking record after the first 100. I also timed during her 400 and 200 swims. She looked like she was in the zone for the 1500. Very confident, loose and almost had a swagger behind the blocks. Very different feeling from her before that race compared to her other swims. You almost knew something special was going to happen. From about the middle of the race on, there was a deafening wave of sound that followed her from one end of the pool to the other. Almost like "the wave" at a sporting event. But way better and more electric. I was only a few feet from the official when the bell sounded for the final lap, but I couldn't hear it! Kevin

There was an article about this swim on Swimming World Magazine's website: www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../14962.asp She took it out 2 sec faster than the time she WON the 800 with earlier in the meet. WOW! Go Kate! This is awesome!!!

Its to bad that Kate didn't do this 4 years ago. Back then USA Swimming had the great "Million Dollar Distance Challenge". When Larsen Jensen dropped 11.42 seconds in the 1500 Free from Olympic Trials to the Olympics I believe it was not renewed by USA Swimming. Larsen went 14;56.71 in the Olympic Trials in Long Beach to establish an American Record and then had that great rece with Hackett in Athens when he dropped to 14:45.29 for the silver medal. He was still 10.73 seconds from the World Record of 14:34.56 but I think that USA Swimming did not want to risk this in the next 4 years. Now Kate Ziegler appears to be there. The one glitch in this is that there isn't a Women's 1500 Free in the Olympics but an 800 Free but the same stipulations apply. I seem to recall that if any American swimmer established a World Record in either the 800 or 1500 Free they would be eligible for the one million dollor bonus for the performance. In searching the USA Swimming site I found that it only applied to the Olympics, so that would mean Kate would have to win the medal and establish a World Record in the 800 Free. So this swim would probably not qualify for the 1 million dollars if USA swimming kept the Distance Challenge. search.usaswimming.org/search Page 18 of the USA Swimming National Team Newsletter "Waves January 2003" titled "Million Dollar Distance Challenge".

that was an amazing swim. i saw the last 2-3 minutes on youtube. there is no one anywhere close to her.

I've watched this a couple of times. How does she go so fast? I have no expertise at distance swimming. She looks to have a fast stroke rate which she obviously sustains for the duration of the event. Anyone have any thoughts?

Notice her breathing pattern in light of the number of threads on this topic. She takes 3-4 breaths on one side, then switches to the other side (at least in the last 200 shown on the video). It really incorporates the two principles that in a race, a swimmer needs as much oxygen as possible (so it is good to breathe every stroke), but bilateral breathing leads to a more balanced stroke (which is why it is good to switch sides). Looks to me like Kate has found the best of both worlds!

I have no expertise at distance swimming. She looks to have a fast stroke rate which she obviously sustains for the duration of the event. Anyone have any thoughts? I agree. That's the really astounding thing. She looks like she's swimming a 200 free, not a 1500 free. The ability to maintain that kind of cadence through the entire race is staggering. No idea on how to do it. I guess using one of those tempo trainers would be a good start. Anyone use one?

the record is certainly part of who she is. I get the feeling that Kate breaking the records is a real downer for Janet based on this comment. I hope Janet realizes that she was a record-holder for a REALLY long time - she set a standard that took 20 years for another individual to achieve. She was a true pioneeer; 20 years ahead of her time. Heck, we may be able to change the number in that last sentence, as we may not see another Janet/Kate caliber swimmer for a while. I wonder, will Kate have a rival?

I get the feeling that Kate breaking the records is a real downer for Janet based on this comment. I hope Janet realizes that she was a record-holder for a REALLY long time - she set a standard that took 20 years for another individual to achieve. She was a true pioneeer; 20 years ahead of her time. Heck, we may be able to change the number in that last sentence, as we may not see another Janet/Kate caliber swimmer for a while. I wonder, will Kate have a rival? I'd say that she has plenty in the Olympic distances (400 and 800). Obviously now she is in a class by herself in the 1500 but Laure Manandou of France was within a second of Kate at World Champs. in the 800 and her world record is about 3 seconds faster than Kate's best in the 400. Shibata of Japan and a Polish woman whose name I won't even attempt to spell have better times this year in the 400 as well. Katie Hoff is also very close to Kate in the 400. I think that could be a fun rivalry to watch. Based on Kate's most recent 200 results, it's obvious that her speed is improving and she definitely is going after a 4X200 relay berth in Beijing. I don't think that she'll break her 1500 record for a while. I read somewhere that at Nationals and probably through the Olympics she is focusing on the shorter distances which makes sense given that the 1500 is not an Olympic event.