The USA will have to swim out sad. Katie Ledecky had the whole world shocked when she broke her world record in the 800 m freestyle with a stunning 8:04.12 at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale. Further, she added the second-fastest ever 1500 m (15:24.51) with a career‑best 400 m free (~3:56.81) shortly after. At U.S. Nationals in early June, she backed it up with championship-winning times in the 400 m (3:58.56), 800 m (8:05.76), and 1500 m (15:36.76), including a meet-record in the 800m. So, it was natural for people to have high hopes for her in the World Championships.
The 2025 World Aquatics Championships were held in Singapore from July 11 to August 3, 2025, at the World Aquatics Championships Arena in the Singapore Sports Hub, Kallang. Now, Lani Pallister, Claire Weinstein, Isabel Gose, etc. stood alongside Summer McIntosh, Katie Ledecky, and Li Bingjie for the Women’s 400 m Freestyle Final. The headlines that followed from the championships are not only saddening for the USA but also worrying for Katie’s further chances. Here’s what went down.
In one of the most talked-about showdowns of the swimming season, Summer McIntosh delivered a stunning performance to beat Katie Ledecky in the 400-meter freestyle on the opening night of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. McIntosh took control in the second half of the race and powered to the wall in 3:56.26. But what truly stung for Ledecky wasn’t just losing gold—it was getting edged out for silver by China’s Li Bingjie, who surged past both Ledecky and Australia’s Lani Pallister in the final metres to touch in 3:58.21.
Olympic champion Ledecky, long the queen of distance freestyle, had to settle for bronze with 3:58.49, a rare and humbling moment that underscored how fierce the global competition has become. Cody Miller uploaded this on his story, writing, “Summer rules Ledecky’s 27th Medal This was b——.” Now the women’s 800 m freestyle at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore is scheduled for Saturday, August 2. This race, a long‑promised rematch between Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh, is widely anticipated as one of the defining moments of the meet. But Ledecky’s loss to China’s Li Bingjie is worrying.
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