WATCH: Ledecky, Finke Power To 800 Free Victories At US Open | SwimSwam

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

2021 US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, December 1 – Saturday, December 4, 2021
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Info
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results (Omega)

A pair of Olympic gold medalists earned wins on the opening night of the 2021 US Open in Greensboro, as Katie Ledecky and Bobby Finke walked away victorious in the 800 freestyle.

Women’s 800 Free

1. Katie Ledecky, 8:12.81
2. Leah Smith, 8:23.78
3. Sierra Schmidt, 8:34.80

Ledecky won the women’s event in 8:12.81, just three-tenths off of her Olympic-winning time from the summer and a new US Open Record, lowering her 8:14.59 set in 2019.

Leah Smith recorded her fastest swim in two years to take second in 8:23.78, and Sierra Schmidt was third in 8:34.80.

Race Video:

Men’s 800 Free

1. Bobby Finke, 7:54.07
2. Charlie Clark, 7:54.40
3. Tommy-Lee Camblong, 8:01.33

Finke used his patented closing speed to win the men’s race in a time of 7:54.07, using a blistering 27.20 last 50 to overtake Ohio State’s Charlie Clark (7:54.40), who made a big move late and fell just shy of the win.

Race Video:

Read full recaps of both races from the opening night of action in Greensboro here.

The first full day of competition is already underway, with Ledecky and Finke both entered to swim the 400 free on Thursday. Check out the Day 2 Prelims Live Recap here.

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