2 months ago
Lani Pallister of Australia stunned Katie Ledecky with her first international loss in the 800m freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships on Saturday night.
Pallister was under world-record pace for much of the race and touched in 8 minutes, 6.10 seconds to erase Ledecky's championship record from 2018. Ledecky, the four-time Olympic champion in her signature event, took silver in a season-best 8:07.26.
The American's lone previous defeat in an 800m free final since 2010 came in a small domestic meet in February 2024 against rising star Summer McIntosh of Canada.
"I was just so locked in and I've been really focused on what I want," Pallister said. "The 800 is my favorite event. Katie's such a dominant force."
Responding to defeat, Ledecky said: "That was definitely my best swim of the week, so I'm actually pretty happy with it. If I was going to get second tonight, I wanted to make it a good one. Just wanted to make it hard for Lani."
#ledecky #Event
Pallister was under world-record pace for much of the race and touched in 8 minutes, 6.10 seconds to erase Ledecky's championship record from 2018. Ledecky, the four-time Olympic champion in her signature event, took silver in a season-best 8:07.26.
The American's lone previous defeat in an 800m free final since 2010 came in a small domestic meet in February 2024 against rising star Summer McIntosh of Canada.
"I was just so locked in and I've been really focused on what I want," Pallister said. "The 800 is my favorite event. Katie's such a dominant force."
Responding to defeat, Ledecky said: "That was definitely my best swim of the week, so I'm actually pretty happy with it. If I was going to get second tonight, I wanted to make it a good one. Just wanted to make it hard for Lani."
#ledecky #Event
2 months ago
One of the autographs that Katie Ledecky signed in the summer of 2014 was for a 12-year-old Australian named Lani Pallister.
"Dream big!" Ledecky inscribed in a small spiral notebook, an image that for a time was Pallister's screen saver.
Tonight, Pallister will dare to to dream big.
The final night of the Pan Pacific Championships, the biggest meet of 2026 for Americans and Australians, features potentially the most seismic swim of the year. Coverage airs at 10 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN from Irvine, California.
Pallister has a chance to become the first swimmer to beat Ledecky in an 800m freestyle championship final.
#pallister #dream
"Dream big!" Ledecky inscribed in a small spiral notebook, an image that for a time was Pallister's screen saver.
Tonight, Pallister will dare to to dream big.
The final night of the Pan Pacific Championships, the biggest meet of 2026 for Americans and Australians, features potentially the most seismic swim of the year. Coverage airs at 10 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN from Irvine, California.
Pallister has a chance to become the first swimmer to beat Ledecky in an 800m freestyle championship final.
#pallister #dream
2 months ago
In one of the biggest shocks of the meet through three days, world record holder Summer McIntosh missed the championship final of the women's 400 freestyle Friday morning, finishing ninth in prelims in 4:08.56.
McIntosh posted a time more than 14 seconds slower than her own world record. It's a stunning result in an event she's dominated internationally over the past year, and it continues a disappointing week in freestyle events for the Canadian superstar.
McIntosh came into the 400 off after losing the 200 freestyle by 0.19 seconds to Australia's Lani Pallister on day one after scratching the 200 ******* erfly. That result already raised eyebrows given her status as one of the most dominant swimmers in the sport. However, missing a final outright is a different level of surprise.
McIntosh is never shy about racing a heavy program, and the ******* ulative toll of that schedule may be part of the story. She was able to win gold last night in the 400 IM, making the freestyle stumbles specifically notable rather than a sign of an across-the-board slump.
With McIntosh out of the picture, Katie Ledecky and Pallister will settle the 400 free between themselves tonight, a rematch of sorts after Pallister pushed Ledecky hard in the 1500 free on Wednesday.
#mcintosh #pallister #free
McIntosh posted a time more than 14 seconds slower than her own world record. It's a stunning result in an event she's dominated internationally over the past year, and it continues a disappointing week in freestyle events for the Canadian superstar.
McIntosh came into the 400 off after losing the 200 freestyle by 0.19 seconds to Australia's Lani Pallister on day one after scratching the 200 ******* erfly. That result already raised eyebrows given her status as one of the most dominant swimmers in the sport. However, missing a final outright is a different level of surprise.
McIntosh is never shy about racing a heavy program, and the ******* ulative toll of that schedule may be part of the story. She was able to win gold last night in the 400 IM, making the freestyle stumbles specifically notable rather than a sign of an across-the-board slump.
With McIntosh out of the picture, Katie Ledecky and Pallister will settle the 400 free between themselves tonight, a rematch of sorts after Pallister pushed Ledecky hard in the 1500 free on Wednesday.
#mcintosh #pallister #free
2 months ago
World record-holder Summer McIntosh failed to qualify for the 400m freestyle final at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, on Friday, slumping to the ninth-quickest time in the heats.
The 19-year-old Canadian sensation, who won three gold medals at the Paris Olympics, clocked 4min 08.56sec -- more than 14 seconds outside the world record she set last year before going on to win the world ******* le in Singapore.
McIntosh had been expected to figure in a three-way battle for the Pan Pacs crown with US freestyle great Katie Ledecky and Australian Lani Pallister.
Ledecky led the way into Friday night's final with a time of 4:03.48 and Pallister, who won the 200m free and took silver behind Ledecky in the 1,500m on Wednesday, was fourth-quickest.
The competition that brings together top swimmers from non-European countries has been a mixed bag for McIntosh.
#World #time
The 19-year-old Canadian sensation, who won three gold medals at the Paris Olympics, clocked 4min 08.56sec -- more than 14 seconds outside the world record she set last year before going on to win the world ******* le in Singapore.
McIntosh had been expected to figure in a three-way battle for the Pan Pacs crown with US freestyle great Katie Ledecky and Australian Lani Pallister.
Ledecky led the way into Friday night's final with a time of 4:03.48 and Pallister, who won the 200m free and took silver behind Ledecky in the 1,500m on Wednesday, was fourth-quickest.
The competition that brings together top swimmers from non-European countries has been a mixed bag for McIntosh.
#World #time
2 months ago
For the first time since the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, the event is back on American soil. Although Pan Pacs doesn't always get the same hype as World Championships or the Olympic Games, this year's meet is loaded with must-watch matchups.
World records will be on life support, old rivalries will be renewed, and new stars will emerge. Here are five storylines worth clearing your schedule for:
Finke's was the man to beat in the 800 freestyle after the Olympics in Tokyo, but he hasn't looked like his best self since Paris. Enter 22-year-old Sam Short, the Australian who swept the 400, 800 and 1500 at this summer's Commonwealth Games. Short is having an exceptional summer and is looking to continue his hot streak at Pan Pacs.
Short's race plan typically the opposite of Finke's. He likes to go out fast and make the competition hurt early, while Finke has built his career on an impressive back-half. If Short can build enough of a cushion before Finke's motor kicks in, the race could over at the halfway mark. If not, expect Finke to close well, flexing his iconic closing speed down the stretch.
Betting against Ledecky in the 800 free is historically a bad idea. She owns the world record and has rarely been challenged in the final 200 meters of this race as she's spent a decade making it look routine.
#since #pacific
World records will be on life support, old rivalries will be renewed, and new stars will emerge. Here are five storylines worth clearing your schedule for:
Finke's was the man to beat in the 800 freestyle after the Olympics in Tokyo, but he hasn't looked like his best self since Paris. Enter 22-year-old Sam Short, the Australian who swept the 400, 800 and 1500 at this summer's Commonwealth Games. Short is having an exceptional summer and is looking to continue his hot streak at Pan Pacs.
Short's race plan typically the opposite of Finke's. He likes to go out fast and make the competition hurt early, while Finke has built his career on an impressive back-half. If Short can build enough of a cushion before Finke's motor kicks in, the race could over at the halfway mark. If not, expect Finke to close well, flexing his iconic closing speed down the stretch.
Betting against Ledecky in the 800 free is historically a bad idea. She owns the world record and has rarely been challenged in the final 200 meters of this race as she's spent a decade making it look routine.
#since #pacific
2 months ago
Where to watch Pan Pacific swimming championships: Full schedule, channel, live stream, times for 2026 event originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
California will host one of the world's biggest international swimming meets this week — get ready for the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships.
The last time the Pan Pacs were on American soil was in 2010. The meet usually takes place every four years in between Olympic Games, but with a disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will mark the event's first iteration since 2018.
Given the Pan Pacs only include non-European nations, the American team is usually challenged most by longtime rival Australia. Athletes from nations like Canada, China, **** an, Brazil and South Africa will also participate.
Fans should be on the lookout for top talents like Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh, Lani Pallister, Bobby Finke and Sam Short.
#swimming #usually
California will host one of the world's biggest international swimming meets this week — get ready for the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships.
The last time the Pan Pacs were on American soil was in 2010. The meet usually takes place every four years in between Olympic Games, but with a disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will mark the event's first iteration since 2018.
Given the Pan Pacs only include non-European nations, the American team is usually challenged most by longtime rival Australia. Athletes from nations like Canada, China, **** an, Brazil and South Africa will also participate.
Fans should be on the lookout for top talents like Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh, Lani Pallister, Bobby Finke and Sam Short.
#swimming #usually
4 months ago
Where to watch TYR Pro Swim Series Indianapolis: Full schedule, times, channels, live streams for Katie Ledecky, more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
USA Swimming's 2026 TYR Pro Swim Series will come to a conclusion this week with a final meet in Indianapolis.
Taking place at the Indiana University Natatorium for the first time in five years, nearly 600 of the country's most elite swimmers are set to compete throughout four days of races. Fans can even expect a majority of the active 2024 Paris Olympians to be hitting the water in Indianapolis.
Headlining this meet of course, are two of the most decorated swimmers of all time — Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel. Both will be competing for the first time since the Fort Lauderdale Open in May. Other up-and-coming stars to watch are Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass, Torri Huske and 20-year-old Katie Grimes.
Who will shine in Indy?
USA Swimming's 2026 TYR Pro Swim Series will come to a conclusion this week with a final meet in Indianapolis.
Taking place at the Indiana University Natatorium for the first time in five years, nearly 600 of the country's most elite swimmers are set to compete throughout four days of races. Fans can even expect a majority of the active 2024 Paris Olympians to be hitting the water in Indianapolis.
Headlining this meet of course, are two of the most decorated swimmers of all time — Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel. Both will be competing for the first time since the Fort Lauderdale Open in May. Other up-and-coming stars to watch are Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass, Torri Huske and 20-year-old Katie Grimes.
Who will shine in Indy?
