Lani Pallister rocks world titles in Titmus' absence as Kaylee McKeown overtakes icon
In a race that was billed as a battle between swimming great Ledecky and young superstar McIntosh, it was Pallister who surprised fans. With just 100m left in the race, McIntosh had a narrow lead over Ledecky.
The American star started to pull away from McIntosh, but to the surprise of viewers it was Pallister that went stroke for stroke with Ledecky. And Ledecky finished with a time of 8:05.62, but only edging out Pallister who touched the wall in 8:05.98.
Pallister stunned the world having finished in front of McIntosh, by more than a second, who finished with a bronze in 8:07.29. Ledecky admitted she was stunned three swimmers went under 8:10 in a race that is being named as the greatest ever.
"They pushed me all the way," Ledecky said of her rivals. "That's pretty incredible, three of us going under 8:10. I just kept telling myself to trust my legs, because I've gotten a bit better at kicking. Just running home at the end. It's the fastest I've ever been at a world championships."
The Aussie broke her own national record and improved it by some margin. Pallister swam 8:10.84 back at the national trials in June. She shaved nearly five seconds off her best this time round.
She now has two bronze, one silver and a gold at this year's titles. And fans were stunned at Pallister's race having cemented herself as a potential future champion at the 800m freestyle event.
Watching Lani Pallister in the Womans 800 Free last night in the 2025 World Aquatic Championships in Singapore only narrowly get beaten by Katy Ledeckie shows Lani is the future. What an outstanding race by all the Girls.
— Chris McKay (@ChrisMcKayReal) August 2, 2025
That was one of the greatest distance races in history. @katieledecky wins the 800 free world title for the seventh time in 8:05.62 ahead of Australian Lani Pallister (8:05.98) & Summer McIntosh (8:07.29). #AQUASingapore2025 #AQUASingapore25
— Liz Byrnes (@LizByrnes14) August 2, 2025
all the conversation about the 800m free being 'mcintosh vs ledecky' and then lani pallister gets silver i love australian swimming so so much
— sarah (@sleeplesshockey) August 2, 2025
This is a true "race of the century". Credit to all three swimmers. Katie Ledecky - 8:05.62 Lani Pallister - 8:05.98Summer McIntosh - 8:07.29 #AQUASingapore25 pic.twitter.com/3H4pu8m1tX
— Paul Griffin (@PGriffinFC) August 2, 2025
Lani Pallister overtakes Ariarne Titmus in absence
Pallister's time now has her well in front of Aussie and rival Ariarne Titmus. The Aussie is taking time away from the pool after the Paris Games, but in her absence she has watched her records tumble.
Titmus saw Pallister break her 800m national record at the national trials. And Pallister improved this time considerably overnight in Singapore. And McIntosh broke the 400m world record in the Canadian trials having also won the same event at the world titles. Titmus is set to return after the championships with one eye on the Olympics, but she now has two new rivals in Pallister and McIntosh.
Kaylee McKeown overtakes Ian Thorpe record
And on a brilliant night for Aussie swimming, McKeown became arguably the greatest women's backstroker of all time having won the 200m event. McKeown touched in at 2:03.33 to record a championship record and beat rival Regan Smith.
"I wasn't feeling too great heading in, a bit of illness and stuff going around, dealing with a bit of a shoulder (injury)," McKeown said. "I dug really deep."
McKeown has now won the double gold, 100m and 200m backstroke, in Fukuoka 2023, Paris 2024 and now Singapore 2025. With her 200m record she equalled Thorpe's total of six at the world championships. She also overtook Thorpe as the Aussie swimmer with the most combined individual gold medals at the world titles and Olympics with 10.
Kaylee McKeown just won her 10th LCM backstroke title. That's the most of any swimmer in history.She is the backstroke GOAT.
— Slaylee Goatkeown (@SwimFanAus) August 2, 2025
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