Not even a team illness can hold Katie Ledecky from dominating her favoured events, with the US swimming star topping the women’s 800 freestyle qualifying session at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships on Friday, 1 August.
A large crowd packed out Singapore’s World Championships Arena once again for a high-quality qualifying session featuring plenty of Olympic champions.
Following on from her 1500 freestyle victory on Tuesday, the seven-time Olympic champion stopped the timer at 8:14:62 to progress to tomorrow’s final in top spot, where she will be joined by Heat 2 winner Summer McIntosh, who clocked 8:19.88 in pursuit of her fourth title at this event.
Earlier, Australia’s Kaylee McKeown continued her charge towards another sprint double with the top time in the women’s 200 backstroke.
The double reigning Olympic champion, who won a thrilling 100 back final two days ago, touched home in 2:08.01 to book her place in this evening’s semi-finals alongside USA’s Regan Smith.
Versatile backstroke Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon progressed to this evening’s men’s 100 butterfly semis alongside newly-crowned 50 butterfly world champion Maxime Grousset of France, and top-placed Noe Ponti of Switzerland.
Australian Olympic champion Cameron McEvoy qualified in second overall for this evening’s men’s 50 free semis, which David Popovici scratched, while compatriot Kyle Chalmers failed to make it through.
Finally, Gretchen Walsh moved a step closer to her second win in Singapore after topping the women’s 50 butterfly heats.
The USA star, who already has the 100 fly gold medal from earlier in the week, stopped the clock in 25.22, with Kate Douglass and Rikako Ikee of Japan joining her in this evening’s semi-finals.