### Swimming Stars Shine Ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics

Katie Ledecky, Bobby Finke, and Gretchen Walsh each celebrated their third victories at the Toyota U.S. Swimming Championships on Saturday, showcasing their readiness for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Ledecky secured her 15-year unbeaten streak in the 1500m freestyle with a time of 15 minutes, 36.76 seconds, leading the field by over 25 seconds in Indianapolis. She currently holds the fastest times globally this year in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events.

Ledecky is on the brink of breaking records at the World Championships. A sweep of her three individual events and a win in the 4x200m freestyle relay could bring her just one title short of Michael Phelps' record 26 world titles. She could also surpass Ryan Lochte for the second-most total medals in championships history, with 26 medals so far, just one shy of Lochte's 27. Her primary rival for Paris 2024 is expected to be Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh, who recently broke the world record in the 400m freestyle.

Gretchen Walsh also impressed at nationals by tying the American record of 23.91 seconds in the 50m freestyle, set by her training partner Kate Douglass. Walsh, who posted the world's fastest times this year in both the 50m and 100m butterflies and the 50m freestyle, aims for her first individual title in a major international meet in a 50-meter pool.

Bobby Finke continued his dominance in distance events, winning the 800m and 1500m freestyles—the same events in which he clinched gold at the Olympics. Although he also triumphed in the 400m individual medley at nationals, he will not compete in this event at the world championships due to scheduling overlaps. Finke seeks to become the first American man since Tim Shaw in 1975 to claim the 1500m freestyle title at worlds.

Adding to the day's accomplishments, Jack Alexy captured the men's 50m freestyle in 21.36 seconds, becoming the second-fastest American ever in the event behind Caeleb Dressel. Shaine Casas and Alex Walsh topped the podium in the men's and women's 200m individual medleys, respectively, with the world's fastest and second-fastest times this year.

As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, these swimmers' stellar performances set the stage for what promises to be an exciting competition on the world's biggest stage.