American swimming legend Katie Ledecky cemented her legacy at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Saturday, securing an unprecedented seventh 800m freestyle world title. The 27-year-old battled fierce competition from Australia's Lani Pallister and Canada's Summer McIntosh, clocking a championship record 8:05.62 in a thrilling final sprint.
"Three of us going under 8:10 – they pushed me all the way," Ledecky remarked post-race, acknowledging the rising talent in women's distance swimming. China's Li Bingjie, finishing fifth, praised the champion: "Katie's 8:05 is scary fast. I still have work to do."
The U.S. team continued its dominance with a world-record performance in the mixed 4×100m freestyle relay (3:18.48), while Australia's Kaylee McKeown set another championship benchmark in the 200m backstroke (2:03.33). Chinese swimmers Peng Xuwei and Liu Yaxin placed fourth and sixth respectively in the backstroke final, with Liu noting challenges from competing in both pool and open water events.
In semifinal action, China's Tang Qianting advanced to the 50m breaststroke final as second seed, while Wu Qingfeng and Cheng Yujie qualified for the 50m freestyle showdown. The results highlight Asia's growing presence in global aquatics, with Chinese athletes demonstrating particular strength across multiple disciplines.
