U.S. swimmers showed they’re competitive across the board this past week, with Team USA earning a podium finish in 34 of the 42 pool events contested at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships that wrapped up Sunday in Fukuoka, Japan.

And though Team USA’s seven gold medals trailed the numbers put up at recent world championships, the squad’s 38 total medals — including 20 silvers — easily topped the overall medal table, with Australia coming in second at 25. Australia led the gold-medal race with 13 in a breakout performance coming one year ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The U.S. arrived in Fukuoka with a handful of familiar names missing, but the big names in Fukuoka still shined, while some talented up-and-comers showed they’re ready to compete on the global stage.

Here’s what we learned about Team USA in Fukuoka.

It’s Katie Ledecky’s World

There is simply no catching Katie Ledecky in her signature events. The 26-year-old proved utterly dominant in once again winning the women’s 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle races, both in historic fashion. First, she won the 1,500 by 17 seconds, then she claimed the win in the 800 by nearly 4.5 seconds. The results leave her with the 16 fastest times ever in the 1,500 and the top 28 times in the 800.

She also made history in a number of ways. The wins gave Ledecky 21 career world titles, moving her past Michael Phelps for the most ever. Her 16 individual world titles also one-upped Phelps. And along the way, Ledecky’s win in the 1,500 made her the first swimmer to own five world titles in two events. Then her win in the 800 made her the first swimmer to own six world titles in a single event. By the way, she also earned silver medals in the 400 free and 4x200 free.

A Surge On Sunday

Team USA closed out the competition on a high note, with Hunter Armstrong and both 4x100 medley teams winning gold medals as part of a seven-medal haul on Sunday. Armstrong won gold in the non-Olympic 50-meter backstroke event, out-touching teammate Justin Ress — and swapping their finishing positions from last year’s world championships. Sunday’s highlights also included the second silver medal of the competition for Bobby Finke.

The reigning Olympic champ in the men’s 800 and 1,500 frees, Finke took second in both in Fukuoka while swimming some of the fastest times in history. Breaststroke specialist Lilly King won a silver medal in the 50-meter event. And then teenage star Katie Grimes — who earned the first U.S. medal in Fukuoka, taking bronze in the open water 10K — also won the last U.S. medal nearly two weeks later when she took home the silver in the 400 IM.

What We Learned About U.S. Swimmers At The World Championships

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