McIntosh, Ledecky Set For 800m World Championships Showdown Singapore

At the 2025 swimming world championships in Singapore, Summer McIntosh and Katie Ledecky have both qualified for the highly anticipated 800m freestyle final, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. Ledecky, a 28-year-old American and four-time Olympic champion in the event, remains the dominant force, having recently broken her own world record. However, 18-year-old Canadian McIntosh, who has already won three golds at the championships and posted the third-fastest 800m time ever, is aiming to dethrone Ledecky and match Michael Phelps's record of five individual titles at a single world championship. Ledecky led the heats with a time of 8:14.62, while McIntosh qualified third at 8:19.88, both expressing confidence and readiness for the final after strong performances in preceding events. McIntosh has shown remarkable recovery and form, signaling a potential shift in dominance in the event. This duel highlights a possible changing of the guard in women's distance swimming, as McIntosh challenges the long-standing supremacy of Ledecky.