In a rematch of one of the most highly anticipated showdowns in recent memory, Katie Ledecky once again had the upper hand on Summer McIntosh in the women’s 800 freestyle at the 2026 Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont.
Competing on the opening night of racing on Wednesday, Ledecky and McIntosh locked horns for the first time since going head-to-head in the 800 free final at the 2025 World Championships, where Ledecky won the title for the seventh time in her career in a Championship Record time of 8:05.62, while McIntosh settled for bronze in 8:07.29.
In Westmont, the two went stroke for stroke for the majority of the race, turning just 23 one-hundredths apart at the halfway mark, before Ledecky slowly pulled ahead, gaining a body-length lead by the 600-meter turn before claiming victory in a time of 8:08.57, with McIntosh less than two seconds back in 8:10.45.
RACE VIDEO
Courtesy of USA Swimming on YouTube
Ledecky’s time stands up as the 10th-fastest of her career and 13th-fastest all-time, while McIntosh’s is the fourth-fastest of her career and the 20th-best performance ever.
Of the top 20 swims in history, Ledecky owns 15 of them, while McIntosh has four and Australian Lani Pallister owns one, having upset McIntosh for silver last summer at Worlds in 8:05.98.
All-Time Performances, Women’s 800 Freestyle (LCM)
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:04.12 – 2025
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:04.79 – 2016
- Summer McIntosh (CAN), 8:05.07 – 2025
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:05.62 – 2025
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:05.76 – 2025
- Lani Pallister (AUS), 8:05.98 – 2025
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:06.68 – 2016
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:07.07 – 2023
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:07.27 – 2018
- Summer McIntosh (CAN), 8:07.29 – 2025
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:07.39 – 2015
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:08.04 – 2022
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:08.57 – 2026
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:08.87 – 2023
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:09.13 – 2018
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:09.27 – 2022
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:09.85 – 2025
- Summer McIntosh (CAN), 8:09.86 – 2025
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:10.32 – 2016
- Summer McIntosh (CAN), 8:10.45 – 2026
Ledecky said after the race that she was a “little under the weather,” which may have been the reason why she dropped the 400 IM from her program on Thursday, but McIntosh will be in the action tonight in the final of the women’s 200 fly.
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