Back in 2012, a 15-year-old Katie Ledecky dropped six seconds in her 800 free to stun the U.S. Olympic Trials field and make her first Olympic team.
Nine years later, a veteran Ledecky won the 800 free, then turned around to watch another 15-year-old stun the field for an Olympic berth. 15-year-old Katie Grimes of the Sandpipers of Nevada dropped 11 seconds to surge to second place behind Ledecky, earning her first-ever Olympic berth.
Grimes went 8:31.73 out of heats – that was a six-second drop that snuck her into the final in 8th place. Then in the final, the young distance star found another gear, smashing an 8:20.36 to outswim open water Olympian Haley Anderson for the second Olympic spot behind Ledecky.
The time for Grimes moves her to #3 all-time in USA Swimming’s 15-16 ranks. She sits behind two absolute legends: Ledecky herself and former world record-holder Janet Evans.
Grimes’ swim caps a stellar week for the Sandpipers of Nevada. 16-year-old Bella Sims made the Olympic team as a member of the 4×200 free relay for the Sandpipers. And she swam to 5th in the 800 free final tonight, moving to #5 all-time in the 15-16 age group’s history.
Top USA Swimming 15-16s All-time, 800 Free
- Katie Ledecky (2013) – 8:13.86
- Janet Evans (1988) – 8:17.12
- Katie Grimes (2021) – 8:20.36
- Becca Mann (2014) – 8:22.45
- Bella Sims (2021) – 8:23.55
Among swimmers of all ages, Grimes is now the #7 U.S. swimmer of all-time and Sims the #11 U.S. swimmer of all-time.
When Ledecky made her Olympic team at age 15, she was 8:19.78 at Trials – just half a second faster than Grimes was. Ledecky kicked off her brilliant international career later that summer, dropping to 8:14.63 to win Olympic gold.
