Ledecky edges McIntosh in 800m freestyle at Pro Swim Series

The two swimming stars go head-to-head in the opening event of the Westmont meet.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Katie Ledecky won the 800m freestyle over Summer McIntosh to kick off a Pro Swim Series meet in Westmont, Illinois, on Wednesday. Ledecky, the four-time Olympic gold medalist in the event, clocked 8 minutes, 8.57 seconds, while McIntosh, the second-fastest woman in history in the event, finished 1.88 seconds behind.

Why it matters

The rivalry between Ledecky and McIntosh, two of the top female swimmers in the world, is one of the most anticipated storylines in the sport. Their head-to-head battles in the 800m freestyle have become must-watch events, as they continue to push each other to new heights.

The details

Ledecky won the last four Olympic 800m free gold medals, and she also won the event at the 2022 World Championships, becoming the first swimmer to claim seven world titles in one event. Last August, Ledecky swam 8:05.62 to beat Australian Lani Pallister (8:05.98) and McIntosh (8:07.29). At 700 meters, Ledecky trailed McIntosh by 14 hundredths, then overtook the Canadian while holding off Pallister, who had the fastest last 50 meters.

  • Ledecky won the 800m free at the World Championships last August.
  • McIntosh beat Ledecky in an 800m free in February 2024 — Ledecky's first defeat in the event in 14 years.
  • In June 2025, McIntosh swam the third-fastest time in history — 95 hundredths off Ledecky's latest world record of 8:04.12 that she set a month prior.

The players

Katie Ledecky

A four-time Olympic gold medalist in the 800m freestyle and the first swimmer to claim seven world titles in one event.

Summer McIntosh

The second-fastest woman in history in the 800m freestyle, who has emerged as one of Ledecky's top rivals in the event.

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What’s next

Ledecky and McIntosh could go head-to-head again in Friday's 200m free at the Pro Swim Series meet. The U.S. swimmers are also preparing for the major international meet of 2026, the Pan Pacific Championships in August in Irvine, California.

The takeaway

The close competition between Ledecky and McIntosh in the 800m freestyle highlights the depth and talent in women's swimming, as the two stars continue to push each other to new levels of excellence in the event.