Lani Pallister ends Katie Ledecky's gold medal streak in 800m freestyle

At the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, Lani Pallister defeated Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle, marking the first time Ledecky lost in this event at a major meet. Pallister finished with a time of 8 minutes, 6.10 seconds, taking the lead from the start and maintaining it throughout. This victory breaks Ledecky's impressive streak of 13 international championship golds dating back to 2012. Just days prior, Pallister had closely trailed Ledecky in their previous encounters, showcasing her progression as a strong contender in women's distance swimming. Ledecky's last defeat in the 800m freestyle prior to this was to Summer McIntosh in February 2024 at a smaller event.

• 5:48 AMESPN — Pallister stuns Ledecky with first int'l 800m loss
• 5:01 AMThe Guardian Sport — Australia’s Lani Pallister topples 800m freestyle queen Katie Ledecky at Pan Pacs
• 4:14 AMYahoo Sports — Lani Pallister ends Katie Ledecky's streak in 800m freestyle at 13 gold medals