Katie Ledecky dominated the 800-meter freestyle competition once again. The American swimmer won her seventh straight world championship on Saturday in Singapore, fending off a fierce comeback by 17-year-old Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh. NBC reports that Ledecky led for most of the way, but McIntosh closed in lap by lap. When McIntosh nudged ahead by 0.14 seconds at the 700-meter mark, it appeared the crown was slipping-away from Ledecky. But Ledecky tightened down.
By the last lap, she had pulled away in front, fending off the teenager and cementing her place in history.
Historic Record Surpassed
With Saturday’s victory, Ledecky now has more world titles in one event than any other swimmer in history. Her seventh gold in the 800 free surpasses her own six-title string in the 1500 free, and surpasses Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström, who won six in the 50 butterfly.
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“It’s been a really great season and I think coming into tonight, no matter what the outcome was, I was gonna be really happy with my season,” the swimmer told NBC Sports. “And I think I just took the pressure off and allowed me to enjoy the race and kind of appreciate that moment,” she added.
Dominance That Still Endures
This was not only a victory – it was a declaration. Ledecky, who is now 27, has been competing and dominating at the world level for more than a decade. And although there is no dearth of young talent on the rise quickly, she is not quite ready to relinquish anything yet.
Her preparation has been strong, and her dominance in the pool remains unmatched. She never flustered when McIntosh surged forward for that moment. Rather, she coaxed her back, stroke by stroke. That last 100 meters confirmed it: Ledecky is not merely still playing the game, she is still raising the bar.
