{"id":266423,"date":"2017-07-18T12:00:29","date_gmt":"2017-07-18T19:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=266423"},"modified":"2017-07-18T14:22:31","modified_gmt":"2017-07-18T21:22:31","slug":"fina-world-championships-predictions-womens-800-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-world-championships-predictions-womens-800-free\/","title":{"rendered":"FINA World Championships Predictions: Women’s 800 Free"},"content":{"rendered":"

For\u00a0Katie Ledecky<\/strong>, the 800 free will once again be her last race of an extremely busy program at the FINA World Championships in Budapest. It should be no surprise that she’s the heavy favorite to win gold.<\/p>\n

Ledecky won Olympic gold in the event in 2012 and then out-dueled\u00a0Lotte Friis\u00a0<\/strong>to win the World title one year later. No one has been close to her since, and she beat the field in Rio by more than 10 seconds. Even if she doesn’t challenge her otherworldly world record of 8:04.79, Ledecky should have no one close to her in this race.<\/p>\n

In the battle for silver and bronze,\u00a0Boglarka Kapas\u00a0<\/strong>should be front-and-center, as the Olympic bronze medalist from Rio should have some major support from the Hungarian fans.<\/p>\n

Read below to see what\u00a0Swimming World’s\u00a0<\/em>trio of experts think will happen in\u00a0Budapest.\u00a0David Rieder<\/strong>,\u00a0John Lohn<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Andy Ross<\/strong>\u00a0will each offer their predictions for\u00a0who will finish on the podium.<\/p>\n

Women’s 800 Free<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Current Records:<\/h3>\n

World Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Katie Ledecky, USA (2016) — 8:04.79
\nChampionship Record:<\/strong> Katie Ledecky, USA (2015) — 8:07.39
\nAmerican Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Katie Ledecky (2016) — 8:04.79<\/p>\n

2015 World Champion:<\/strong> Katie Ledecky, USA — 8:07.39
\n2016 Olympic Gold Medalist:<\/strong> Katie Ledecky, USA — 8:04.79
\n2017 World No. 1:<\/strong> Katie Ledecky, USA — 8:11.50<\/p>\n

Swimming World Predictions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

David Rieder’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Katie Ledecky, USA
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Boglarka Kapas, HUN
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Leah Smith, USA<\/p>\n

John Lohn’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Katie Ledecky, USA
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong> Boglarka Kapas, HUN
\nBronze:<\/strong> Leah Smith, USA<\/p>\n

Andy Ross’ Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Katie Ledecky, USA
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong> Leah Smith, USA
\nBronze:<\/strong> Boglarka Kapas, HUN<\/p>\n

Previous\u00a0Events<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Day One:<\/h3>\n