Summer McIntosh Breaks Ledecky’s 800m Freestyle Mark at 2025 Championships
Summer McIntosh set a new 800m freestyle record at the 2025 Southern Zone South Sectional Championships, finishing in 8:09.86. This time not only surpassed her personal best but also exceeded the Olympic winning time by Katie Ledecky at Paris 2024. McIntosh’s achievements are significant as she is now the only swimmer besides Ledecky to break the 8:10 mark in this event.
Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh demonstrated her prowess by breaking the 800m freestyle mark during the 2025 Southern Zone South Sectional Championships held in Plantation, Florida. On February 13th, McIntosh improved her personal best by 1.53 seconds, completing the race in 8:09.86. This new time not only sets a new Canadian and Commonwealth record but also surpasses the winning time of 8:11.04 achieved by nine-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Interestingly, McIntosh did not participate in the 800m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, opting instead to focus on the 200m and 400m distances, where she excelled and secured three gold medals along with one silver. Meanwhile, Ledecky has long dominated the 800m freestyle, maintaining an unbeaten streak in event finals since 2010 until McIntosh edged her out at the 2024 Southern Zone South Sectional Championships with a time of 8:11.39.
With her impressive swim at the 2025 championships, McIntosh stands as the only swimmer besides Ledecky to secure a time under the prestigious 8:10 mark in the 800m freestyle. This event also marked McIntosh’s first competitive appearance since her remarkable performance at the 2024 Short Course World Championships in Budapest, where she earned three gold medals and set six world records, alongside one silver and one bronze medal.
Summer McIntosh’s remarkable achievement in the 800m freestyle at the 2025 Southern Zone South Sectional Championships highlights her rising status in competitive swimming. By breaking Ledecky’s previous winning time from the Paris 2024 Olympics and setting new national records, McIntosh firmly establishes herself as a formidable contender in the sport. Her past successes further underscore her potential for continued excellence in future competitions.
Original Source: www.olympics.com
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