Katie Ledecky Claims 800m Freestyle Gold at World Aquatics Championships
American swimmer Katie Ledecky secured her seventh world title in the women’s 800-meter freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in February 2024, overcoming strong competition from Summer McIntosh of Canada and Australia’s Lani Pallister. This race highlighted the ongoing rivalry between Ledecky, a seasoned champion, and the talented 18-year-old McIntosh, who aimed to match Michael Phelps’ record of five gold medals at a single world championship.
Earlier in the week, McIntosh had triumphed in the 400-meter freestyle, suggesting she could challenge Ledecky again. However, Ledecky reclaimed her dominance in longer distances during this event. Throughout the race, Ledecky, McIntosh, and Pallister distanced themselves from the rest of the field, creating an exhilarating battle that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
Ledecky ultimately touched the wall first with a championship-record time of 8:05.62. Pallister finished just 0.36 seconds behind, while McIntosh secured third place, finishing another 1.31 seconds later. “We got three under 8:10 there. That’s pretty incredible,” Ledecky remarked post-race. “Lani with the 8:05, Summer with the 8:07. That’s incredibly fast and they pushed me all the way.”
The race began at a blistering pace, with all three swimmers on track for a world record at the halfway mark. Despite this, Ledecky concluded just over a second shy of the record she set in May. She maintained the lead for the majority of the race and demonstrated remarkable stamina, holding off a late surge from her competitors.
“I just came in tonight trying to enjoy this as much as I can,” Ledecky added. “I don’t feel like I have anything to lose at this point in my career. I just enjoy it every time I get to walk out in front of a crowd like this and swim against the best in the world.”
This victory marks Ledecky’s second gold medal at this championship, following her win in the 1,500-meter freestyle earlier in the week. With this latest achievement, Ledecky now has a total of 23 world titles to her name.
Meanwhile, McIntosh has already secured three gold medals at this championship, having won in the 200-meter butterfly, 400-meter freestyle, and 200-meter medley. She now prepares for her next event, the 400-meter individual medley, scheduled for Sunday. The dynamic performances at the World Aquatics Championships continue to showcase the talents of both established champions and rising stars in the swimming world.
