Katie Ledecky secured victory over Summer McIntosh in the women's 800m freestyle to open the Pro Swim Series meet in Westmont, Illinois, on Wednesday. Ledecky, a four-time Olympic champion in the event, finished with a time of 8:08.57, holding off McIntosh by 1.88 seconds.
This win comes after McIntosh defeated Ledecky in an 800m free race in February 2024, which was Ledecky's first loss in the event in 14 years. Last August, Ledecky won the 800m free at the World Championships, becoming the first swimmer to claim seven world titles in a single event.
The Pro Swim Series continues through the weekend, with Ledecky and McIntosh potentially facing off again in the 200m freestyle on Friday. U.S. swimmers are using this meet as preparation for the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships.
In other events, France's Leon Marchand won both the 200m backstroke and 200m breaststroke. Regan Smith and Kate Douglass each posted the world's fastest times of 2026 in the women's 200m backstroke and 200m breaststroke, respectively.