Watch Katie Ledecky Come From Behind in Epic 800 Free Win (Race Video)

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Katie Ledecky swims the 800 free on her way to gold. Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

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After scratching two events and under-performing in a third because of illness, Katie Ledecky returned to gold at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

And Ledecky did so by holding off Simona Quadarella in one of the closest races in recent memory in the women’s 800 free. In fact, Ledecky used a monster turn on the final lap to be able to overtake Quadarella, who led most of the race.

Ledecky was able to hang on for gold in 8:13.58, with Quadarella taking silver on 8:14.99 and Ariarne Titmus won the bronze in 8:15.70. Quadarella won the 1500 free, an event Ledecky scratched, and Titmus beat Ledecky head-to-head in the 400 free to open the meet.

Asked where she ranked the swim, given that it was her No. 22, Ledecky said: “It’s hard to rank it. Each swim … is unique and has its own story. This one definitely has one that I’ll be telling for a while and I have a lot of stories from this week, stories that I didn’t want to have.

It’s special to be able to pull out a swim like that – and just trust that I could do it.

Women’s 800 Free Results:

8:13.58, Katie Ledecky, USA
8:14.99, Simona Quadarella, ITA
8:15.70, Ariarne Titmus, AUS (OC)
8:16.43, Sarah Kohler, GER
8:17.10, Leah Smith, USA
8:18.57, Wang Jianjiahe, CHN
8:25.07, Kiah Melverton, AUS
8:25.51, Mireia Belmonte, ESP

Complete results here.

The all-time top 12 list was roughed up by the race:

8:04.79 Katie Ledecky, USA 2016
8:14.10 Rebecca Adlington GBR 2008
8:14.64 Wang Jianjiahe CHN 2019
8:14.99 Simone Quadarella ITA Gwangju 2019
8:15.46 LI Bingjie CHN 2017
8:15.54 Jazmin Carlin GBR 2014
8:15.70 Ariarne Titmus AUS Gwangju 2019
8:15.92 Lotte Friis DEN 2009
8:16.22 Janet Evans USA 1989
8:16.33 Leah Smith USA 2019
8:16.37 Boglarka Kapas, HUN 2016
8:16.43 Sarah Kohler GER Gwangju 2019

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