It’s only June, and the women’s 800 free has already experienced its fastest year ever.
After Katie Ledecky delivered a mind-boggling 8:04.79 to win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, nobody neared that time for eight more years – Ledecky included. Flash forward to 2025, and Ledecky suddenly rekindled the spark she had in 2016, breaking her own world record in 8:04.12. She showed the swim wasn’t a fluke by following it up with an 8:05.76 at U.S. Nationals.
Ledecky seemingly burst open a dam, as this week, Summer McIntosh and Lani Pallister both advanced as the #2 and #3 performers of all time with four-plus-second personal bests. McIntosh hit 8:05.07 at Canadian Trials, while Pallister turned in an 8:10.84 at Australian Trials.
Ledecky is a symbol of persistence who challenges the swimming world to reach her heights. Despite our freestyle GOAT’s signature metronomic consistency, however, she couldn’t swim identically as a 28-year-old to how she swam at 19, right?
Looking at stroke count comparisons of her world-record swims this year and in 2016, the answer is yes, her race is swum differently now – but not by much. Despite going a best time this year, Ledecky’s stroke efficiency decreased compared to her 19-year-old self. She took 651 strokes to break the world record this year, while in 2016 she took 641 strokes en route to her 8:04.68.
A 10-stroke difference seems minimal, though, when comparing Ledecky’s swims to her closest rival, McIntosh. The Canadian took around 606 strokes* to reach her 8:05.07 Canadian Record, significantly less than Ledecky. McIntosh’s stroke efficiency is much higher despite being four inches shorter than Ledecky, and despite Ledecky having above-average underwaters for a distance swimmer. The American more than makes up for this DPS gap with an unrivaled tempo. This goes to show there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
800 Free Stroke Counts
| McIntosh, 2025 Canadian Trials | Ledecky, 2025 Fort Lauderdale | Ledecky, 2016 Rio De Janeiro | |
| 50 | 32 | 36 | 36 |
| 100 | 36-38* | 41 | 41 |
| 150 | 37 | 41 | 40 |
| 200 | 37 | 40 | 41 |
| 250 | 38 | 40 | 40 |
| 300 | 38 | 40 | 40 |
| 350 | 39 | 40 | 40 |
| 400 | 37 | 40 | 40 |
| 450 | 38 | 41 | 40 |
| 500 | 39 | 41 | 40 |
| 550 | 39 | 42 | 40 |
| 600 | 39 | 42 | 40 |
| 650 | 39 | 42 | 40 |
| 700 | 38 | 42 | 41 |
| 750 | 39 | 42 | 40 |
| 800 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| Total | 605-607 | 651 | 641 |
| Average | 37.9 | 40.7 | 40.1 |
*McIntosh leaves frame for a few seconds during the second 50 of her 800 in the only full video of McIntosh’s race. This stroke count is an estimate.
Watch all three races below:
This is fun to read! Thank you
I didn’t realize how many strokes KL takes. She really just has a mad mad turnover
Nice work and analysis. The Singapore women’s 800 race should rival the 2012 London one in terms of fan interest and anticipation.
People, the bottom line is who finishes first. Wait until the next race.
The bottom line is, everyone will die
For the 2nd 50, it is 35, 37, or 39 – not an even number, and almost certain 37. Her first pull is with her left arm, but her cycle starts with her right, and she finishes on a full cycle.
TIL that Katie Ledecky went 8:04.68 in Rio
If Katie Ledecky would stop trying to overcook herself in the heats of the W 1500 FR and W 800 FR, she would more gas in the tank for the final of the W 4 x 200 FR-R and the final of the W 800 FR.
In regard to the W 1500 FR, Katie Ledecky could post a time of 15:50 in the heats, post a time of 15:30 in the final, yet still win by 10 seconds. At the age of 28, a pursuit of the World Record in the W 1500 FR does no favors later in the competition when the gas gauge reads empty.
I’m just going to randomly mention Sun looking like he was effortlessly doing Popov’s practice sets while setting wrs
If I recall correctly, Sun took 27 strokes per 50 meters, while the next guy behind him took 39.