Ledecky rules 800 free again at US Open

GREENSBORO - Seven-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky eased to victory in the 800-meter freestyle on Wednesday in the opening race of the US Open Swimming Championships at Greensboro, North Carolina.

Ledecky, the three-time defending Olympic gold medalist and current world champion in the 800 free, posted a time of 8mins 15.91secs to win by almost 15 seconds. 

Ledecky's time was more than 11 seconds shy of her world record, set in 2016, and almost two seconds behind her winning time from last year's US Open.

But the meet is a staging post for the 26-year-old Ledecky as she builds up towards next year's Olympics, where she hopes to become the first woman ever to win four Olympic gold medals in one event.

The US Olympic team trials will be held in Indianapolis on June 15-23, 2024.

Ledecky will be back in the pool for the 400m freestyle heats on Thursday.