Katie Ledecky (USA) and Summer McIntosh (Canada) are preparing for their second showdown at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships this week.
For many, Ledecky is the greatest female swimmer of all time, and the GOAT could face future competition for this title from McIntosh, the teenager superstar who is doing more than just making a splash.
On Friday, 31 July, the pair was in action in the 800m freestyle heats in Singapore, with the US legend topping all qualifiers with a time of 8:14.62 – more than five seconds faster than her rival (8:19.88).
McIntosh is set to continue her bid to match Michael Phelps‘ five-gold haul at a single world championships, having won three golds this week and beating Ledecky already in the 400 freestyle final.
Ledecky, meanwhile, is hunting down Phelps’ all-time record of 26 gold medals at the long course world championships, and is hoping to close the gap with victory over McIntosh.
So get excited – this is an event where the world record has been broken already this year, while their personal bests are close and getting closer…
Summer McIntosh: I learned to thrive under pressure
The Canadian swimming star, who won three golds and one silver at Paris 2024, shares how she learned to manage expectations both mentally and physically: ‘Pressure is really just part of the game, and it’s something you can actually feed off of and turn into positive energy. That’s what I did leading up to Paris, and it obviously worked out pretty well,’ she said in this exclusive interview.
Katie Ledecky vs Summer McIntosh – who is faster?
American Ledecky boasts 21 of the 25 fastest times in women’s 800 freestyle history, with McIntosh occupying third, 13th and 23rd – while Lani Pallister is 16th.
Ledecky first broke the world record with a time of 8:13.86 in 2013, but 12 years on that time is down to 46th in the all-time list.
She has since smashed that record, posting a new WR of 8:04.79 at Rio 2016.
The 28-year-old then broke her own WR again back in May, going 8:04.12 at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale to prove she is improving with age.
Recent signs suggest McIntosh is closing in though with the Canadian racing a PB 8:05.07 in June for the third-fastest time in history.
It means less than a second separates Ledecky and McIntosh’s PBs ahead of their showdown.
Did Summer Macintosh beat Katie Ledecky?
McIntosh knows beating Ledecky is a daunting task but can be done.
The Canadian handed Ledecky her first defeat for 14 years in the 800 free at the 2024 Southern Zone South Sectionals last February.
That meant it was Ledecky’s first taste of defeat in an 800m freestyle final since she was 13.
This week, McIntosh also took home 400m freestyle gold with Ledecky claiming the bronze. A different distance, but further proof McIntosh can beat the GOAT.
Fifteen-year-old American Katie Ledecky wins the women’s 800m freestyle, becoming the youngest ever to win the event.
How may World Championship medals does Katie Ledecky have?
Ledecky has more world championship medals than any other female swimmer, and took her tally to 22 golds when winning the 1500m freestyle title this week in Singapore.
She has Phelps’ record haul of 26 golds in her sights, while Ledecky also boasts five silvers and one bronze at the worlds for a total of 28 medals.
Ledecky first conquered the world at Barcelona 2013, winning four golds in the 400, 800 and 1500 free as well as the 4x200m freestyle relay.
How may World Championship medals does Summer McIntosh have?
McIntosh is already a seven-time champion at the long course World Championships, and also has one silver and three bronze medals for a total of 11 medals overall.
The Canadian won her first two golds at Budapest 2022 in the 200 butterfly and 400 medley, and won gold in the same two events at Fukuoka 2023.
So far in Singapore, she was won 400 freestyle, 200 medley and 200 butterfly gold, and is hoping to win five golds overall – a record she would share with Phelps if she manages it.
That would require beating Ledecky in the 800 free before she goes in the 400 IM on Sunday.
How many Olympics has Katie Ledecky been in?
Ledecky first competed in the Olympics at London 2012, making Paris 2024 her fourth appearance overall.
In that time, Ledecky has won nine gold medals, four silver and one bronze.
She is the back-to-back-to-back-to-back Olympic champion in the 800 freestyle, winning her first-ever gold in that event in London and defending the title in Rio, then Tokyo, then Paris.
How many Olympics has Summer McIntosh been in?
McIntosh made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 at the age of just 14, narrowly missing out on a medal when placing fourth in the 400 freestyle.
At Paris 2024 she truly announced herself on the Olympic stage in the “Summer of Summer”, winning three golds in the 200 butterfly, 200 and 400 medleys, and winning silver in the 400 freestyle.
At just 18, she has every chance of adding to her medal haul in the years to come.
