Women’s 1,500-Meter Freestyle PLAY Length 0 of 30 x x x x x xLedecky holds the world record in the 1,500 and had the top qualifying time on Monday. Until 1968, the longest Olympic event in women’s swimming was 400 meters. Meyer won the first 800-meter Olympic race for women at the Mexico City Games that year, as well as the 200 and 400 freestyle. At the Atlanta Games, the women gained parity, with a 4x200-meter freestyle relay. The 10-kilometer open-water event was added to the Olympics in 2008, with races for men and women.

Source: International New York Times July 29, 2021 00:01 UTC