It was set up as the World Championship's hottest duel, the one on 800 meters freestyle between the world record holder and the giant Katie Ledecky against the ten years younger Summer McIntosh, 18, who had already taken three gold medals in the championship in Singapore.
Old turned out to be oldest. But what no one had counted on was that the Australian Lani Pallister would get involved in the top struggle. Pallister snatched the silver from McIntosh by having the most power at the end. She improved her personal record by five seconds.
Ledecky had the lead for the most part throughout the race with McIntosh and Pallister right behind her. On the last length, the American could pull away and win with 36 hundredths ahead of Pallister and 1.67 ahead of McIntosh.
And to the question of what was most memorable when she took her seventh World Championship gold on the distance, Ledecky replied.
That we were three under 8.10. It went incredibly fast, they pushed me all the way. I'm very happy that I managed, says Ledecky in the victory interview in SVT's broadcast.
I just thought I'd try to enjoy the race as much as possible, I have nothing to lose anymore in my career.
Ledecky has now taken seven World Championship golds and four consecutive Olympic Games golds on 800 meters. She polished her world record to 8.04,12 in May this year.
