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

katie-ledecky-800-free-final-2019-world-championships_3
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:

  1. 8:13.58, Katie Ledecky, USA
  2. 8:14.99, Simona Quadarella, ITA
  3. 8:15.70, Ariarne Titmus, AUS (OC)
  4. 8:16.43, Sarah Kohler, GER
  5. 8:17.10, Leah Smith, USA
  6. 8:18.57, Wang Jianjiahe, CHN
  7. 8:25.07, Kiah Melverton, AUS
  8. 8:25.51, Mireia Belmonte, ESP

Complete results here.

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

  1. 8:04.79 Katie Ledecky, USA 2016
  2. 8:14.10 Rebecca Adlington GBR 2008
  3. 8:14.64 Wang Jianjiahe CHN 2019
  4. 8:14.99 Simone Quadarella ITA Gwangju 2019
  5. 8:15.46 LI Bingjie CHN 2017
  6. 8:15.54 Jazmin Carlin GBR 2014
  7. 8:15.70 Ariarne Titmus AUS Gwangju 2019
  8. 8:15.92 Lotte Friis DEN 2009
  9. 8:16.22 Janet Evans USA 1989
  10. 8:16.33 Leah Smith USA 2019
  11. 8:16.37 Boglarka Kapas, HUN 2016
  12. 8:16.43 Sarah Kohler GER Gwangju 2019

 

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Kara Muscillo
5 years ago

Kim Pfarrer DiJoseph watch the last 50!! Absolutely ridiculous

Andrea McHugh
5 years ago
Reply to  Kara Muscillo

Kara Muscillo yes…that was insane!

Kim Pfarrer DiJoseph
5 years ago
Reply to  Kara Muscillo

Kara Muscillo explosive !

Amanda Braun Thorne
5 years ago

Wow that was awesome she was not looking good in her earlier swims I was worried. Hope she is feeling better now.

Jennifer Penniman Robinson

I appreciate so much that she give credit to the other swimmers performances. She is a class act.

Susan Steeper Magnanelli

Go Katie!!

Elizabeth Berezwick
5 years ago

Abby Dudash Oceana O’Boyle

Virginia Anne Diederich

Love her!

Shari Schaepper
5 years ago

Could you please make it possible for these videos to be watched in Canada!

Mary-Helen Hopkins
5 years ago

Shari Schaepper, I think they were viewable earlier on, but now we’re totally shut out. ?

אדוה לנדסמן
5 years ago

Experience.
The kee word – I believe.
Good health Katie ?

Michelle Reed Binkauskas

Awesome job, Katie!!

Marilyn Peñailillo
5 years ago

She’s the best

Paul Osborne
5 years ago

Well done Katie, superb last 50m.

Diego Armando Gonzalez Amador

Karla Angelica Stark

Karla Angelica Stark
5 years ago

Diego Armando Gonzalez Amador ya quitaron el vídeo

Laura M Wanco
5 years ago

Wow. What a turn and last 50…Lesson learned. Bring your food!

Tony Schorr
5 years ago

That final turn was amazing!!????

Andree Reed
5 years ago

She is awesome!

Ann Morrison Wroblewski

Lori Wroblewski. Hannah needs to watch this ?

Laurie Kim Thomson
5 years ago

What a wonderful ambassador for the sport. She is a role model extraordinaire.

Ja Bounce
5 years ago

THAT LAST TURN!!! Sooooooooo solid!!

Rich Davis
5 years ago

Great to see her recover from her illness and return to her winning form.

Don Alger
5 years ago

Awesomely done Katie!!!

Alex Shin-Chi Tseng
5 years ago

Welcome Back KL, Team Us will be you save.

Beth Odum McGee
5 years ago

She is such a RACER! ALL HEART ?!

Sherry Herrmann
5 years ago

Heart of a Champion ❤️??! Go Ledecky ??‍♀️

Karen Johnson
5 years ago

Amazing !

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