Ledecky Continues Dominance Over McIntosh in 800m Freestyle
Katie Ledecky reaffirmed her status as a swimming powerhouse, defeating Summer McIntosh in the 800-meter freestyle at the Pro Swim Series meet in Westmont, Illinois, on Wednesday. Ledecky finished in 8:08.57, nearly two seconds ahead of McIntosh’s 8:10.45.
A Rematch Seven Months in the Making
This race was a highly anticipated rematch following Ledecky’s victory over McIntosh at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore last August. Ledecky secured her record seventh world title in that event, denying McIntosh a chance to match Michael Phelps’ record of five individual gold medals at a single championships.
McIntosh’s New Training Regime
Since the World Championships, McIntosh has been training under Bob Bowman at the University of Texas – the same coach who guided Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals. Despite the change in coaching, McIntosh was unable to overcome Ledecky in this latest showdown.
Times Fall Short of Personal Bests
Whereas Ledecky emerged victorious, neither swimmer achieved their personal best times. Ledecky’s winning time was well short of her world record of 8:04.12, set in May 2025. McIntosh as well didn’t improve upon her best time of 8:05.07.
Looking Ahead: McIntosh and Ledecky’s 200m Freestyle Clash
The two swimming stars are set to compete again in the 200-meter freestyle on Friday. McIntosh holds the top entered time of 1:53.65 from the 2023 World Championships, while Ledecky’s best in the event dates back to the 2016 Rio Olympics (1:53.73). This will be their first 200m race in nearly two years.
McIntosh’s Versatility on Display
Beyond the 800m and 200m freestyle, McIntosh is also scheduled to compete in the 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley, 400 IM, and 400 free during this week’s Pro Swim Series event.
Recent Successes for McIntosh
McIntosh has demonstrated impressive form recently, breaking pool records at the Pro Swim Series meet in Austin, Texas, in January. She set a new record in the 400 IM with a time of 4:28.13, surpassing Kirsty Coventry’s mark from 2008. She also broke the record in the 200 IM, finishing in 2:08.48.
Pro Swim Series as a Stepping Stone
The Westmont Pro Swim Series is the second of four stops leading up to the Pan Pacific Championships in August, which will be held in Irvine, California.
FAQ
Q: Who won the 800m freestyle at the Westmont Pro Swim Series?
A: Katie Ledecky won the 800m freestyle with a time of 8:08.57.
Q: Who coaches Summer McIntosh?
A: Summer McIntosh is currently coached by Bob Bowman.
Q: When is the next race between Ledecky and McIntosh?
A: They will next race in the 200m freestyle on Friday.
Q: Where will the Pan Pacific Championships be held?
A: The Pan Pacific Championships will be held in Irvine, California, in August.
Did you know? Bob Bowman also coached Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals.
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