Katie Ledecky’s 13-Year Win Streak in 800-Meter Freestyle Ends

Katie Ledecky has dominated the women’s swimming world for 13 years, but one of her most impressive streaks came to an end on Thursday. Summer McIntosh defeated Ledecky in the 800-meter freestyle by six seconds at the Southern Zone South Sectional Championships in Orlando, the first time that Ledecky lost in this event since 2010.

Ledecky’s dominance in the event included three Olympics gold medals and eight more gold medals while competing in the World Championships and Pan Pacific Championships. She currently holds the women’s world record for fastest time in the 800-meter freestyle, clocking in at 8:04:79 at the 2016 Olympics, and owns each of the 16 fastest times in the event.

Ledecky is still just 26 years old, and she will look to win her fourth 800-meter freestyle Olympic gold medal this Summer.

Katie Ledecky lost an 800-meter freestyle event for the first time since 2010.

Grace Hollars/USA Today sports

McIntosh is only 17 years old, but the Canadian is already breaking through in the swimming world. She competed in four events in the 2021 Summer Olympics, which included two fourth-place finishes and an 11th-place finish in the 800-meter freestyle. Since then, however, she’s won eight medals, including four gold medals, in the last two World Aquatics Championships.

Neither McIntosh nor Ledecky will compete in the 2024 World Championships, which begin Sunday in Qatar.