Katie Ledecky once again proved untouchable in her signature event, holding off a star-studded field to win her seventh world title in the 800m freestyle on Saturday in Singapore, a feat no swimmer has ever achieved in a single event.
The 28-year-old American delivered a championship-record 8:05.62 to edge Australia’s Lani Pallister (8:05.98) and Canada’s Summer McIntosh (8:07.29) in one of the most anticipated races of the world swimming championships. The trio are the three fastest women in history over 800m, and the amply hyped final more than lived up to the billing, producing the fastest field ever assembled in the event.
Quick GuideWorld Swimming Championships 2025
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The schedule
The swimming portion of the World Aquatics Championships takes place from 27 July through 3 August at the Singapore Sports Hub.
The heats start at 10am local time (2am GMT, 10pm ET). The semi-finals and finals start at 7pm local time (11am GMT, 7am ET). The full schedule is available in PDF format or on the World Aquatics website.
How to watch
In the United States, coverage will be available on NBC and streaming service Peacock.
In the United Kingdom, Aquatics GB holds the UK rights to stream events.
In Australia, the Nine Network will provide broadcast coverage throughout the championships.
In Canada, events will be broadcast live on CBC, with streaming options via CBC digital platforms.
For other countries and full international broadcast listings, visit the World Aquatics broadcast page.
Additionally, the World Aquatics Recast channel will re-air all sessions of the meet, heats and finals for a fee.
Ledecky trailed McIntosh by just 0.14 seconds at the 700m mark but surged ahead in the closing stretch, then held off a furious challenge from Pallister to touch first. The lead had changed hands multiple times, with Pallister taking a remarkable five seconds off her personal best and McIntosh – the 17-year-old phenom who ended Ledecky’s 13-year unbeaten streak earlier this year – appearing poised to complete a historic title sweep.
With the win, Ledecky extended her perfect record in global 800m freestyle finals to 11 wins from 11, dating back to her breakout Olympic gold in 2012 at just 15 years old. It marks her 23rd career world title, trailing only Michael Phelps’ 26, and her 30th world championship medal overall. She also won gold in the 1,500m and bronze in the 400m earlier in the week, her 800–1,500 double once again underscoring her dominance in distance freestyle.
“I was really happy, obviously,” Ledecky said afterward. “It’s the fastest I’ve ever been at a world championships. It’s been a great season, and coming into tonight, I knew I was going to be happy with it no matter the outcome. That really took the pressure off and allowed me to enjoy the race and appreciate the moment.”
“They pushed me all the way,” she added. “That’s pretty incredible, three of us going under 8:10. I just kept telling myself to trust my legs, because I’ve gotten a bit better at kicking. Just running home at the end.”
Ledecky also reflected on her mindset at this stage of her decorated career. “I don’t think I have anything to lose at this point. I’m just enjoying the crowd, swimming against the best in the world. Everyone in that heat is the next generation of swimmers coming up. Just proud to be a part of it.”
Saturday’s showdown had been billed as a changing-of-the-guard moment, with McIntosh seeking to match Phelps’s record of five individual titles at a single world championships, a milestone no female swimmer has ever reached. But beating Ledecky in the 800 always loomed as the toughest obstacle.
McIntosh entered the meet in white-hot form, having broken three world records in five days at the Canadian trials and posted the third-fastest 800m time ever in June. She also handed Ledecky a rare defeat earlier this year at a sectional meet in Florida.
“I think this is a really big learning lesson for me,” McIntosh said. “I went into the 800 free with full confidence … but I’ll try to get this out of my mind quickly and finish strong in the IM.” The Canadian will look to close her remarkable week with a fourth gold in Sunday’s 400m individual medley, where she is the prohibitive favorite.
Pallister, who also earned bronze in the 1,500m and finished fourth in the 400m, said the performance exceeded even her own expectations. “I knew I had a sub-8:10 in me,” the Australian told Nine Network. “I didn’t think I’d be 8:05 here, but now I’m really thrilled with that.” The 22-year-old credited her previous races next to Ledecky for building her confidence in the distance events.
Ledecky’s gold came on a triumphant night for the United States team, which has endured both illness and criticism throughout the week in Singapore. With Phelps and Ryan Lochte publicly questioning the team’s management amid a stomach bug outbreak, the Americans responded with their best day of the meet by winning three golds on Saturday and setting a world record in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.
That team – Jack Alexy, Patrick Sammon, Kate Douglass and Torri Huske – clocked 3:18.48, breaking Australia’s 2023 mark. Gretchen Walsh also claimed the women’s 50m butterfly title in 24.83, completing a sprint double after earlier winning the 100 fly.
The United States now lead the medal table with eight golds heading into the final day of competition. But no victory resonated more than Ledecky’s, a race that reaffirmed her place atop the sport and reminded the world, yet again, that the queen of distance freestyle still reigns.
