A world record was broken 12 times in the 2015 Swimming world championships in Kazan, often by the same person in the same event day after day. Those who stood out were Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden in butterfly events, Adam Peaty of the United Kingdom in the breaststroke and above all of them was Katie Ledecky of the United States with an incredibly dominant week, taking no less than five gold medals.
Sarah Sjöström, Sweden
The 21-year old Sweden had an impressive medal count in Kazan, with two gold medals (50 and 100 meters butterfly), two of silver and one bronze. She broke the world record in the 100 meters butterfly twice, day after day. First it was a 55.74 in the semifinals and a day later, picking up the gold in the event, she swam a 55.64.
Katie Ledecky, United States
This was Ledecky’s championship, winning five gold medals for the United States (200-400-800-1500 freestyle and the 4×20 meters freestyle. She broke the world record three times in the championships: First in the 1500 meters heats with a 15:27.71, then in the final of the event with a 15:25.48. Her third world record came in the final of the 800 meters freestyle, swimming a 8:07.39.
Cameron van der Burgh, South Africa
The South African breaststroker settled for two silver medals in Kazan, but didn’t leave without setting a world record (later broken) in the 50 meters heats with a 26.62.
Adam Peaty, United Kingdom
A wonderful meet for the 20-year old Brit, winning three gold medals (the 50-100 breaststroke double and the 4×100 mixed medley relay). Among those wins came a world record in the 50 meters breaststroke, setting it in the semifinal with a 26.42. Peaty was also part of the relay team that set a new world record in the mixed medley relay.
Katinka Hosszú, Hungary
The 26 year old IM specialist won the 200 and 400 double in the medley races, and set a new world record in the 200 meters final with a 2:06.12.
Relay records
In the mixed 4×100 medley relay heats, Russia set a world record with 3:45.87, which was crushed in another heat by the United States, but the United Kingdom, taking the gold in the event, with Adam Peaty, Fran Halsall, Chris Walker-Hebborn and Siobhan-Marie O’Connor swam a 3:41.71. In the 4×100 mixed freestyle relay, the United States took gold with a 3:23.05, swam by Ryan Lochte, Nathan Adrian, Simone Manuel and Missy Franklin.