2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- Competition Schedule
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Entry Lists
- Results
After taking full advantage of Katie Ledecky’s absence by winning the women’s 1500 earlier in the competition, Italian Simona Quadarella gave the American all she could handle in the final of the 800 freestyle.
Ledecky held the lead early, but Quadarella came up to challenge, overtaking her at the 450m mark. She held the slight lead through the final turn, but the three-time defending champion refused to be denied as Ledecky closed in 29.19 to win gold in 8:13.58.
The 20-year-old Quadarella touched second in a time of 8:14.99, breaking her Italian National Record of 8:16.45 set at the 2018 European Championships where she won gold.
SPLIT COMPARISON
Relative to her swim last summer in Glasgow, Quadarella was faster on every length through the 450, and then slower on the last seven 50s.
| Quadarella, 2018 Euros | Quadarella, 2019 Worlds |
| 29.19 | 28.85 |
| 1:00.24 (31.05) | 59.49 (30.64) |
| 1:31.52 (31.28) | 1:30.38 (30.89) |
| 2:02.79 (31.27) | 2:01.33 (30.95) |
| 2:34.53 (31.74) | 2:32.23 (30.90) |
| 3:05.93 (31.40) | 3:03.31 (31.08) |
| 3:37.46 (31.53) | 2:34.24 (30.93) |
| 4:08.63 (31.17) | 4:05.38 (31.14) |
| 4:39.81 (31.18) | 4:36.33 (30.95) |
| 5:10.78 (30.97) | 5:07.68 (31.35) |
| 5:41.85 (31.07) | 5:38.78 (31.10) |
| 6:13.04 (31.19) | 6:10.15 (31.37) |
| 6:44.35 (31.31) | 6:41.62 (31.47) |
| 7:15.63 (31.28) | 7:13.35 (31.73) |
| 7:46.97 (31.34) | 7:44.21 (30.86) |
| 8:16.45 (29.48) | 8:14.99 (30.78) |
In addition to the National Record, the new 1500 World Champion also jumps up from 10th into fourth all-time in this event. It was also the 28th fastest performance in history.
ALL-TIME PERFORMERS, WOMEN’S 800 FREE
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:04.79 – 2016
- Rebecca Adlington (GBR), 8:14.10 – 2008
- Wang Jianjiahe (CHN), 8:14.64 – 2019
- Simona Quadarella (ITA), 8:14.99 – 2019
- Li Bingjie (CHN), 8:15.46 – 2017
- Jazz Carlin (GBR), 8:15.54 – 2014
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 8:15.70 – 2019
- Lotte Friis (DEN), 8:15.92 – 2009
- Janet Evans (USA), 8:16.33 – 1989
- Boglarka Kapas (HUN), 8:16.37 – 2016
Ariarne Titmus also cracked the top-10 all-time in the race, claiming bronze in 8:15.70 for a new Australian Record.
Loved how Katie said she didn’t lose her training, just the opportunity to show the results from it.
Congratulations SImona, great swim.
It’s interesting to see how few swims in the super suits are on this list.
Either one or two – did Rebecca A from GBR use a super suit in 2008?
Yes
I actually thought she would go faster here, I expected 8:12 or so based on her improvements in the 1500 free. Hard to see her dropping enough time until Tokyo to challenge Ledecky. I also think that the top 10 could have a very different order next year. Wang, Quadarella, Titmus, Köhler and Smith in my opinion all have the potential to go faster than 8:14.10 next year, maybe even Kesely.
Katie Ledecky she was in great difficulty today in the 800 freestyle, I know it’s over.
Wow, Janet Evans on the list from 1989
you bet – her iconic WR stood a LONG time