Katie Ledecky held off a strong challenge from Summer McIntosh and Lani Pallister to win her seventh world title in the 800m freestyle in a character-testing race at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Saturday, 2 August.
The USA swimming legend remains undefeated in the event on the world stage since 2013, winning the race in a championship record time of 8:05.62.
Pallister finished second in 8:05.98, while McIntosh, who was on Ledecky’s tails until the final turn, faded out in the final metres to finish third (8:07.29).
The gold in the 800m freestyle is the 23rd for Ledecky at a world championships, bringing her one gold closer to Michael Phelps’ all-time record of 26 world titles.
With her victory, Ledecky crushed McIntosh’s hopes of matching a Michael Phelps record of her own. After winning three gold medals in her earlier events in Singapore, the Canadian teenager was close to matching Phelps’ 18-year record of being the only swimmer to win five gold medals at a single world championships, which has stood intact for 18 years.