By Madeline Folsom on SwimSwam
2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open
Wednesday, April 29 – Saturday, May 2, 2026 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center LCM (50 meters) Meet Central Psych Sheet LivestreamWelcome to the first day of the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Open! Last year’s Pro Swim Series meet at this pool saw two World Records from Gretchen Walsh and Katie Ledecky, and both swimmers are back this year along with a few other major swimmers.
There is no official livestream, but SwimSwam’s Coleman Hodges will be attempting to livestream the meet on SwimSwam’s YouTube page. Bear with us through this session as this will be our first attempt and it might not be perfect.
The only race tonight is the men’s and women’s 1500 freestyle. Both the men’s and women’s world record holders Katie Ledecky and Bobby Finke are in action tonight and are the heavy favorites to earn the respective wins.
Women’s 1500 Freestyle — Timed Final
World Record — 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2018 American Record — 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (2018) U.S. Open Record — 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2018Top 8 Finishers
Katie Ledecky (GSC) — 15:25.62 Sydney Hardy (SYS) — 16:42.76 Izzy Riva (BSS) — 17:15.26 Mai Perez (UN) — 17:17.21 Veronica Metz (JDST) — 17:17.49 Libby Helmer (NAC) — 17:23.67 Eden McNally (JW) — 17:25.60 Mackenzie Corbin (LAC) — 17:25.62Katie Ledecky dominated the women’s 1500 freestyle, swimming 15:25.62 to set the 5th fastest performance in history in the event and win by more than a minute over Sydney Hardy from Sarasota.
Ledecky’s swim was her 2nd fastest time this season after she swam 15:23.21 in January at the Pro Swim Series stop in Austin. She was also just over a second off the 15:24.51 she swam this time last year at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series.
Updated Top Ten Performances – Women’s 1500 Free
Katie Ledecky — 15:20.48 — 2018 Pro Series – Indy Katie Ledecky — 15:23.21 — 2026 Pro Series – Austin Katie Ledecky — 15:24.51 — 2025 Pro Swim Series – Fort Lauderdale Katie Ledecky — 15:25.48 — 2015 World Championships Katie Ledecky — 15:25.62 — 2026 Fort Lauderdale Open Katie Ledecky — 15:26.27 — 2023 World Championships Katie Ledecky — 15:26.44 — 2025 World Championships Katie Ledecky — 15:27.71 — 2015 World Championships Katie Ledecky — 15:28.36 — 2014 Pan Pacific Championships Katie Ledecky — 15:29.51 — 2020 Pro Series – Des MoinesLedecky was under world record pace through the first 500 meters before falling slightly off the blistering closing pace she had when she set the record back in 2018. She settled in at 1:01-high splits just off the 1:01-mids she held in her world record swim.
Sarasota Sharks 15-year-old Sydney Hardy finished 2nd in 16:42.76 as the only other swimmer under 17 minutes on the women’s side. This swim was a personal best time by a little more than two seconds from the 16:45.04 she swam in July of 2025 at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.
Bolles School 16-year-old Izzy Riva, who is committed to Stanford for the class of 2027, swam 17:15.26 for 3rd overall, about 14 seconds off her lifetime best 17:01.15 from August.
Men’s 1500 Freestyle — Timed Final
World Record — 14:30.67, Bobby Finke (USA), 2024 American Record — 14:30.67, Bobby Finke (2024) U.S. Open Record — 14:40.28, Bobby Finke (USA), 2024Top 8 Finishers
William Mulgrew (SAC) — 15:05.30 Bobby Finke (SPA) — 15:13.62 Juan Vallmitjana (SOFL) — 15:22.96 Connor Buck (PRIN) — 15:38.64 Joey Eaddy (REV) — 15:39.04 Lup Sgroi (SYS) — 15:50.44 Cole Kawaja (PRIN) — 15:56.65 Sawyer Hansen (SPA) — 15:57.03The men’s 1500 freestyle went to William Mulgrew, who just finished his freshman season at Harvard, in 15:05.30. He beat Olympic Champion and World Record Holder Bobby Finke‘s 15:13.62 by about eight seconds.
Mulgrew’s swim was a new personal best by six tenths over the 15:05.97 he swam in August of 2025. He was out in 57.01, starting behind Finke, sitting in 2nd place through the first 1000 meters.
At the 1000 mark, Finke sat just ahead, turning in 10:02.44 to be just ahead of Mulgrew’s 10:02.51. From there, the Harvard freshman dropped into the 1:00-high range for the next 400 before splitting 59.17 on the final 100 to lock up the win.
Fnke was holding between 59-high and 1:00-high over the first 800. From there, he dropped to 1:01-highs. At the 1000, he split 1:01.72 to flip in the lead for the final time. His last five 100 splits were 1:01.52/1:01.85/1:02.39/1:03.19/1:02.23 to touch in 15:13.62. This is his slowest swim since May of 2023 when he swam 15:26.89 at the GA SA Speedo Atlantic Classic. That summer, he swam 14:31.59.
Juan Vallmitjana, who is committed to Virginia for 2027 and competes internationally for Spain, finished 3rd in 15:22.96, just off his season and lifetime best of 15:16.61 from March.
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