Katie Ledecky handed first international 800m freestyle loss in stunner
Key Points:
- Katie Ledecky, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist, was defeated in the 800-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships by Australia's Lani Pallister, who finished in 8:06.10 seconds to Ledecky's 8:07.26.
- This marks only the second time since 2010 that Ledecky has lost in the 800-meter freestyle and the first time at an international meet.
- Ledecky expressed satisfaction with her season-best performance despite finishing second and remains proud of her history in the event.
- Pallister also beat Ledecky in the 400-meter freestyle, while Ledecky won gold in the 1,500-meter event.
- The result underscores the growing competition Ledecky faces ahead of the 2024 Los Angeles Olympics, with Pallister attributing her success to years of hard work and personal sacrifices.