Katie Ledecky stubbornly refused to give up her 800-meter freestyle crown Saturday at the world championships in Singapore, winning that race for a seventh consecutive time and fending off Canada’s Summer McIntosh who led a field of talented young, would-be usurpers.
When the Maryland native triumphantly touched the wall first, she earned her seventh consecutive 800 free title in world meets dating back to 2013.
The niece of New York Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky has also been dominating the 800 free at the Olympics, having won gold in this race at the 2012 games in London, 2016 in Rio, 2021 in Tokyo and last summer near Paris.
She’s the only woman to win the same individual event at four Olympics, in any sport. The only other swimmer to pull off such a four-peat was American legend Michael Phelps, who took the 200 individual medley in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.
At age 28, Ledecky was the field’s oldest swimmer and she outdueled her youngest and most fierce competitor, the 18-year-old Toronto native McIntosh.
Ledecky’s air of 800 invincibility was dented last year when a 17-year-old McIntosh beat the American at the Southern Zone South Sectional Championships in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 8.
The Canadian prodigy opted against swimming in the 800 in France to concentrate on other events. She took gold in the 200 butterfly, 200 Individual Medley and 400 Individual Medley to become one of the breakout stars of last summer.
If McIntosh takes on the 800 free in Los Angeles, Saturday’s race was a tantalizing preview of what could be in store for 2028.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
