Olympic silver medallist Anastasiia Kirpichnikova gave the home Montpellier crowd a thrill from the go on day 2 with a 15:55.27 win and a ticket to Singapore that sets up a World-titles clash with the two rivals she shared the Paris podium with at a home Games in the club of sub-16-minute swimmers this season.

In 15:24.51, Olympic champion and World record holder Katie Ledecky (USA) is the beast to beat, while Lani Pallister (AUS) became the third woman ever to race inside 15:40 as Adelaide trials came to a close yesterday. Then there's the 15:43.94 of Li Bingjie (CHN) and two 15:50 swims, the fastest a 15:52 from Olympic bronze medallist Isabel Gose (GER), with her training partner Moesha Johnson (AUS) on 15:58.

‘I’m pretty fired up’ - Katie Ledecky After 15:24.51, Closest She’s Come To Her World Record

The two-time Olympic champion and only women’s 1500m champion since the 30-lengther was introduced for women, Katie Ledecky now owns the top 22 times ever

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Pallister Punches Commonwealth Record 15:39 In 1500 Curtain-Closer

After Lani Pallister’s 1500 fireworks, head coach Rohan Taylor says of 40-strong Worlds team: “They hate losing more than they like winning, I think. There’s just a certain character ... What you have with [McKeown, (O’Callaghan, Chalmers] is super-competitive...infectious to the team.”

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

In Montpellier, the cut ahead of them at 16.09.09, Clémence Concordant, Lille, was closest to the champion, in 16:31.83, bronze to Carla Serra, 16 and racing for Canet, in 16:33.10.

More on Montpellier finals below ... and here's the action on the last day of Spanish Open Trials in Palma:

The Vortex, June 2025: Carasco & Cabanes Off To World Titles After Brush With Belmonte, 34, in 200IM As Open Trials End

The Vortex, our monthly compilation of news, views & links to external coverage of the sport, is available as part of our offer of free content emailed to those who register as ‘free’ subscribers. Our weekly FORUM newsletter and a deeper dive in our coverage are available for paid subscribers

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord