Pallister stuns Ledecky with first int’l 800m loss

August 16, 2026 No Comments

Pallister hands Ledecky her first international 800 free lossAssociated PressMultiple AuthorsAug 16, 2026, 12:36 AM ET

IRVINE, Calif. — Lani Pallister of Australia stunned Katie Ledecky with her first international loss in the 800-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships on Saturday night.

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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 took silver in 8:07.26. She is the four-time Olympic champion in her signature event. The American’s lone previous defeat in an 800 free final since 2010 came in a small domestic meet in February 2024 against Summer McIntosh of Canada.

“Katie’s such a dominant force,” a breathless Pallister stated.