Indianapolis 2022: Katie Grimes sets new 1500m freestyle World Junior Record

Katie Grimes wrote her name into the record books at the FINA Swimming World Cup, going 15:42.05 in the women’s 1500m freestyle to set the World Junior Record.

The 16-year-old American from Las Vegas, Nevada eclipsed the previous all-time junior time of 15:45.29 set in 2020 by Merve Tuncel of Turkey.

“That was my first time racing a mile in short course meters,” Grimes said after her two-person time trial held at the end of Friday’s morning session in Indianapolis, USA. “I was just trying to race. And it was also my first time trial ever, so I was just trying to have fun with it but definitely felt the pain. And I’m really happy to be done!”

Joining Grimes in Indiana for the first Swimming World Cup held on American soil in 16 years are a number of her Sandpipers of Nevada swim team members who showed their support through the recently-crowned FINA world junior champion in open water.  “They know what it’s going to feel like,” Grimes said about her teammates. “We go through the grind every day together so they knew that was going to be a hard one for me, they didn’t leave the pool even though they have finals tonight, so I really appreciated that.”