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FUKUOKA, Japan – Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Md./Gator Swim Club) made history on Saturday night at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships with her win in the 800m freestyle. She now holds the record for most World Championships individual titles with 16. 

USA Swimming athletes collected six medals on Saturday night. The U.S. has now won 31 medals (4g, 16s, 11b) after 14 competition sessions at the Marine Messe Arena. 

With a winning time of 8:08.87 in the 800m freestyle, Ledecky became the first swimmer ever to win six-straight world titles in an event. She entered the competition with 22 World Championships medals and will leave with four more – gold in the 800m freestyle, gold in the 1500m freestyle, silver in the 400m freestyle and silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay. 

Jack Alexy (Mendham, N.J./California Aquatics) won his third and fourth medals of the meet – both silver – in the 50m freestyle and as the lead leg of the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay. Earlier this week, he won silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze as a member of the 4x100m freestyle relay. 

Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Sun Devil Swimming) won her fourth medal of the competition with a silver in the 200m backstroke. The U.S. has medaled in that event at every World Championships since 2003. Earlier this week, Smith finished with a bronze in the 200m butterfly and earned silver in both the 50m and 100m backstroke events. 

Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./Nashville Aquatic Club/University of Virginia) finished with a bronze in the 50m butterfly. She is just the second American woman to earn a medal in the event since it was added to the schedule in 2001. Jenny Thompson won silver in 2003. Walsh also won silver in Fukuoka as a member of the 4x100m freestyle relay. 

Dare Rose (Jersey City, N.J./California Aquatics) won his first individual medal at an international competition, earning bronze in the 100m butterfly with a time of 50.46. A personal best, Rose’s medal is the first for USA Swimming in the 100m butterfly since 2019. Earlier in the week, Rose earned a bronze medal for his prelim swim in the mixed 4x100 medley relay.  

Women’s 800m Freestyle – FINAL 
GOLD – Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Md./Gator Swim Club), 8:08.87 
Sixth – Jillian Cox (Cedar Park, Texas/Longhorn Aquatics), 8:19.73* 
*Personal best 

Ledecky on her performance: "I never dreamt of even coming to meets like this. To be here, and have a bunch of World titles, is amazing. I am loving every second and try to enjoy each moment. Now I'm done and can enjoy it with my family and friends. There are some really good competitors in all my events. Kudos to them for pushing me all the way, and pushing me each day in practice, where I think about them. It’s always a battle. I know I have to bring my best every single time.” 

Ledecky on her consistency and longevity: “I think I’m pretty tough on myself, but I think I’ve found the balance between being tough on myself and having that grace. I have a really caring coach, Coach (Anthony) Nesty, and he knows when to pull me back in. I’ve got really great people around me and that’s why I’ve been able to be really consistent (in my swims).” 

Women’s 50m Butterfly – FINAL 
BRONZE – Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./Nashville Aquatic Club/University of Virginia), 25.46 
Fifth – Torri Huske (Arlington, Va./Arlington Aquatic Club), 25.64 

Walsh on her performance: “You can’t really see anyone in the 50 fly, so I just tried to put my head down and get my hand on the wall as fast as I could. I think there was a great field of competitors out there, and it’s just an honor to be on the podium with them. I couldn’t be happier that I got a medal.”  

Men’s 50m Freestyle – FINAL 
SILVER – Jack Alexy (Mendham, N.J./California Aquatics), 21.57* 
Fifth – Ryan Held (Springfield, Ill./New York Athletic Club), 21.72 
*Personal best 

Alexy on his performance: “I’m just really happy I can represent Team USA well. I’ve heard a lot of people say men’s sprinting is not always (strong) for Team USA right now, and I’m happy I can help fill those shoes. I think overall Team USA is doing a great job representing our country.” 

Men’s 100m Butterfly – FINAL 
BRONZE – Dare Rose (Jersey City, N.J./California Aquatics), 50.46* 
*Personal best 

Rose on his performance: “I'm super happy to get my first individual medal and get my hand on the wall for Team USA. It’s my second international final so I’m learning from the experience. I’m happy and excited to be here.” 

Women’s 200m Backstroke – FINAL 
SILVER – Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Sun Devil Swimming), 2:04.94 
Sixth – Rhyan White (Herriman, Utah/Wasatch Front Fish Market/Wolfpack Elite), 2:08.43 

Smith on her performance: “The silver medal means a lot. Having the opportunity to be here, competing internationally again in the 200 backstroke, is something, for a while, I never thought I would get to do again. It means a lot that I got to be here. That’s the second time I’ve ever gone 2:04. It’s always a pleasure to come home with a medal for Team USA.” 

Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay – FINAL 
SILVER – USA, 3:20.82 
   Jack Alexy (Mendham, N.J./California Aquatics), 47.68 
   Matt King (Snohomish, Wash./Texas Ford Aquatics), 47.78 
   Abbey Weitzeil (Santa Clarita, Calif./California Aquatics), 52.94 
   Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./New York Athletic Club), 52.42 

With the U.S. earning silver, prelim swimmers Chris Guiliano, Olivia Smoliga and Bella Sims also receive medals. 

King on the relay: “It was a fun race; I had a lot of fun. It’s always an honor to be part of Team USA and be on a relay.”  

Douglass on anchoring the relay: “It’s definitely been interesting being the anchor on all the relays so far this week, but it’s been a lot of fun. I think being anchor really motivates me and I’ve had some really good splits so far this week. It’s been really fun having Team USA rely on me for that this week.” 

Women’s 50m Freestyle – SEMIFINAL 
Fourth – Abbey Weitzeil (Santa Clarita, Calif./California Aquatics), 24.27 
11th – Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./Nashville Aquatic Club/University of Virginia), 24.71 
The final will be contested on Sunday, July 30. 

Women’s 50m Breaststroke – SEMIFINAL 
Second – Lilly King (Evansville, Ind./Indiana Swim Club), 29.72 
T-Ninth – Lydia Jacoby (Seward, Alaska/Seward Tsunami Swim Club/University of Texas), 30.40 
Lydia Jacoby clocked a time of 30.67 and finished second in a swim-off, missing out on the first reserve spot for the finals. 
The final will be contested on Sunday, July 30. 

Men’s 50m Backstroke – SEMIFINAL 
First – Justin Ress (Cary, N.C./Mission Viejo Nadadores), 24.35 
T-Second – Hunter Armstrong (Dover, Ohio/New York Athletic Club/California Aquatics), 24.41 
The final will be contested on Sunday, July 30. 

Men’s 1500m Freestyle – PRELIM 
First – Bobby Finke (Clearwater, Fla./St. Petersburg Aquatics/Gator Swim Club), 14:43.06 
11th – Charlie Clark (Sandusky, Ohio/Vacationland Swim Club/Ohio State), 14:57.16 
The final will be contested on Sunday, July 30. 

Competition concludes Sunday, July 30 with prelims at 10:30 a.m. and finals at 8 p.m. local time. In the U.S., prelims are Saturday, July 29 at 9:30 p.m. ET with finals at 7 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 30. 

The World Aquatics Swimming Championships medal table, sorted by federation and by athlete, can be found here. For more on the U.S. team at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, visit here.