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Katie Ledecky news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Katie Ledecky won the 1500m freestyle at Pan Pacs in 15:36.09, extending her streak to 16 years. Lani Pallister then beat her in the 800m, ending Ledecky's 13-gold international streak.
Background
At the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, Katie Ledecky competed in her signature distance events. She won the 1500m freestyle, but Australian Lani Pallister, who had been closing the gap, defeated her in the 800m, marking a significant shift in women's distance swimming.
How it unfolded
- Aug 13, 2026Ledecky won the 1500m freestyle in 15:36.09, extending her win streak to 16 years; Pallister finished second in 15:38.62.
- Aug 15, 2026Pallister won the 400m freestyle, beating Ledecky head-to-head and posting a faster time than world record holder Summer McIntosh.
- Aug 16, 2026Pallister won the 800m freestyle in 8:06.10, handing Ledecky her first international defeat in that event and ending her streak of 13 international golds.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Ledecky said she wasn't going to read too much into her 1500m time, focusing on the win.
- Analysts
- Pallister's performance signals a changing of the guard in women's distance swimming, as she beat Ledecky in both the 400m and 800m.