Ledecky beats McIntosh to win 800m free thriller
Ledecky won her seventh career gold in the event but she was challenged all the way, touching the wall in a championship-record 8min 05.62sec -- a fingertip ahead of Australia's Lani Pallister (8:05.98) and McIntosh (8:07.29).
The race was billed as a potential changing of the guard between the 28-year-old Ledecky and McIntosh, a decade her junior and in red-hot form in Singapore.
Pallister made sure she inserted her own name into the conversation but Ledecky had the final word, winning gold again in an event she has dominated for over a decade.
"This is my favourite event, it was my first gold," said Ledecky, who made her international breakthrough in the event when she won at the London Olympics as a 15-year-old.
"Even in practice, if I'm doing 800s I tell myself that. I kind of have this fake rule -- I don't lose 800s."
It was Canadian sensation McIntosh's first defeat of the championships and ended her bid to match Michael Phelps as the only swimmer ever to win five individual golds at a single world championships.
The 18-year-old has already won three golds this week in Singapore.
Ledecky had too much staying power for her younger rival, with Pallister also in gold-medal contention right until the end.
"They pushed me all the way," said Ledecky, a four-time Olympic champion in the event.
"I'm just really happy I could put that together. I just kept telling myself to trust my legs."
- 'I hate losing' -
The eagerly anticipated race began with Ledecky, Pallister and McIntosh all setting a fast pace, with little between them in the opening stages.
The lead changed hands several times but Ledecky, swimming between her two rivals, looked best-placed to strike for home.
In the end it was the American celebrating with her country's flag on the pool deck after an epic race.
"I just knew it was close the whole way, there were times where I thought someone was going to break away," said Ledecky.
"I was just happy I was up there. You never know when you dive in what everyone's tactics are going to be."
McIntosh is relatively new to the 800m freestyle but she threatened Ledecky's world record at the Canadian trials in June.
She has another chance to add to her gold tally on the final day in Singapore on Sunday in the 400m individual medley, an event in which she broke the world record in June.
"I hate losing more than I like winning and I think that's a mentality that I carried with myself through my entire career -- and that's my hand on the wall first most of the time," she said.
"The feeling right now is something I never want to feel again."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
8 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Olympic golden girl Tatjana Smith reflects on her year since retirement
It's been a year since Olympic gold medallist Tatjana Smith retired from competitive swimming. The 28-year-old renowned backstroke queen announced her retirement last year after winning two medals at the Paris Olympics 2024. She won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke and a gold medal in the 100m backstroke. Reflecting on the year since her last strokes, Smith shared how her journey shaped who she is. 'One year ago today, I swam the last race of my career,' she said in an Instagram post. 'It still feels surreal. A journey that began with a dream ended up exceeding every expectation I ever had. Swimming gave me more than medals or records — it shaped who I am. It taught me discipline, resilience, humility, and the power of showing up, again and again.' Smith dedicated her last race to her family for their support. 'That final race wasn't just mine; it belonged to my family, who sacrificed more than most will ever know. Standing on the deck that day, I wasn't just closing a chapter. I was celebrating them and the rest of my team, their belief in me, and all the moments we lived through together. I even got to celebrate my competitors — witnessing them reach their dreams, knowing the work and heart behind every moment of success.' Smith started swimming at a young age, and she is now the most decorated athlete in South Africa, with a total of four Olympic medals, including two golds. 'Swimming gave me a stage — but more importantly, it gave me a purpose, a second family, and moments I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. The chapter has closed, but the gratitude never will.'
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- The Citizen
Stadium Management offers update on new FNB Stadium pitch
"We got experts who advised us the FNB pitch is beyond its lifespan and that we have to replace it,' Grobbelaar said. Stadium Management South Africa CEO Bertie Grobbelaar has provided an update on the state of the FNB Stadium pitch, which has undergone a makeover during the off-season in order to host Betway Premiership matches. The iconic 2010 FIFA World Cup venue serves as the home ground for Kaizer Chiefs, who kick off their 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign away to Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium on Sunday. ALSO READ: Barker sees benefits in early Chiefs clash Following the trip to the Mother City to take on Stellies, Amakhosi are scheduled to return to FNB Stadium next Wednesday to host Polokwane City, followed by another home tie against Richards Bay six days later. 'A lifespan of a GrassMaster pitch is anything between 10, 12 to 15 years depending on the usage. We didn't run away last year, we got experts who advised us the FNB pitch is beyond its lifespan and that we have to replace it,' Grobbelaar said to Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000. 'We couldn't do it mid-season and had to wait until the end of the season. It was a bad playing surface towards the end of the season. They took out the pitch, did the work, maintenance and renovations. 'As I said to you, they are halfway with the stitching now, and the GrassMaster machine is on the pitch as we speak. So it's not about the point of not caring about it.' When pressed about whether the stadium will be ready to host Chiefs' upcoming fixtures, starting with the clash against City, Grobbelaar admitted that the surface still has some bit of patches after work was done on it. 'We're hosting the first game on the 13th (August) and you're going to ask me again why is the northern side not as good as other sides,' he said. 'On the northern side, it (will still) have a bit of patchiness for about two weeks and it will be fully grown in. As a stakeholder in the football industry, we must play our role as venues. A football page is dependent on a good playing surface. 'For the spectacles that we anticipate this year, we all need to play our roles. I do understand it (the public frustration) but, as I said to you, not all pitches are hybrid. With the Kikuyu pitches, there is a problem with the change of the season.' FNB Stadium is a multi-purpose venue and frequently hosts major music concerts, with the most recent being American R&B superstar Chris Brown, who performed in front of over 90,000 fans. Grobbelaar acknowledged that such events contribute to the challenge of keeping the pitches in top condition. 'Most of the stadiums rely on other events as well. If you only maintain a pitch to play football, then that's a different story, but the minute you've got concerts and other events on the pitches, the maintenance and keeping it up to standard becomes a challenge,' he explained. 'We need to find the balance to be commercially viable and still deliver good surfaces for playing football. It is a challenge and no one can run away from that, but the venues need to also accept responsibility. ALSO READ: Durban City announce Nodada and three more signings 'That is the problem and it's not commercially viable to only have football at the stadium. I can't speak for others, but a stadium like FNB, you won't be able to maintain the facility without it being used as a multi-purpose venue.'
The South African
13 hours ago
- The South African
Major shake-up in world of cycling as Remco Evenepoel confirms NEW team
Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel will leave Soudal Quick-Step at the end of this season, the team said on Tuesday, and join Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe. The 25-year-old Belgian is one of cycling's brightest stars and won both the road race and time-trial titles at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He is also the current time-trial world champion, finished third at the 2024 Tour de France and has twice won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege Monument race. Evenepoel also won his first Grand Tour, the Vuelta a Espana in 2022. 'Remco informed the team's management that he did not wish to discuss an extension of his current agreement, which expires at the end of 2026,' Soudal Quick-Step said on Tuesday. 'While we regret Remco's decision to leave, we will foster the memories that we have made and will continue to strive together to achieve some significant results for the rest of the season.' Red Bull-Bora boss Ralph Denk hailed the signing as a landmark one for the team. 'Remco brings not only exceptional athletic talent, but also a remarkable mindset. His determination, professionalism, and relentless drive to succeed are truly inspiring,' he said. Evenepoel will race alongside Tour de France breakout star Florian Lipowitz, who came third and won the best young rider's white jersey. Red Bull also boast five-time Grand Tour winner Primoz Roglic. Denk described Evenepoel's arrival as a sign of 'bold ambition to become one of the most attractive forces on the international cycling stage in the years to come'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
