Once again, Katie Ledecky reigns supreme in the 800-meter freestyle.
The 28-year-old swimmer broke her own world record in the event on Saturday, capping off an excellent week at the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ledecky swam the 800m, her signature event, in 8 minutes and 4.12 seconds, outpacing the next-nearest swimmer by 20 seconds.
The time shaved 0.67 seconds off the previous world record, which Ledecky set at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
KATIE. FREAKING. LEDECKY.
She just went 8:04.12 to BREAK HER OWN WORLD RECORD from the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 800-meter freestyle!#TYRProSeriespic.twitter.com/3goB3bctSF
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) May 3, 2025
Ledecky holds the 10 fastest times in the 800m free; she holds 22 of the top 24 all-time fastest times in the event. The other two are held by 18-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh, who holds the 11th and 20th fastest times with times of 8:09.86 and 8:11.39. Ledecky has won the past four straight 800-meter races in the Olympics — one of few athletes to win the same event four consecutive times.
Saturday’s record swim marks the first time that Ledecky has broken a world record since 2018, when she set a world record in the 1500-meter freestyle, another one of her signature events. Ledecky holds the 22 fastest times in that event.
Ledecky has been having a very good week in Fort Lauderdale: On Wednesday, she set her second-best time in the 1500m, beating her next-closest competitor by 39 seconds. On Thursday, she posted her best time in nine years in the 400-meter freestyle, beating McIntosh on the final lap.
Once again, Katie Ledecky reigns supreme in the 800-meter freestyle.
The 28-year-old swimmer broke her own world record in the event on Saturday, capping off an excellent week at the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ledecky swam the 800m, her signature event, in 8 minutes and 4.12 seconds, outpacing the next-nearest swimmer by 20 seconds.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The time shaved 0.67 seconds off the previous world record, which Ledecky set at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Ledecky holds the 10 fastest times in the 800m free; she holds 22 of the top 24 all-time fastest times in the event. The other two are held by 18-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh, who holds the 11th and 20th fastest times with times of 8:09.86 and 8:11.39. Ledecky has won the past four straight 800-meter races in the Olympics — one of few athletes to win the same event four consecutive times.
Saturday’s record swim marks the first time that Ledecky has broken a world record since 2018, when she set a world record in the 1500-meter freestyle, another one of her signature events. Ledecky holds the 22 fastest times in that event.
Ledecky has been having a very good week in Fort Lauderdale: On Wednesday, she set her second-best time in the 1500m, beating her next-closest competitor by 39 seconds. On Thursday, she posted her best time in nine years in the 400-meter freestyle, beating McIntosh on the final lap.