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Canada’s Summer McIntosh took the bronze medal in the 800-metre freestyle at the world swim championship in a three-way duel to the finish. The Toronto teenager, Olympic champion Katie Ledecky of the U.S. and Lani Pallister of Australia battled from start to finish with Ledecky claiming her seventh world title in the distance.
McIntosh seeking a fourth straight gold medal in Singapore ran second to the American star before making her move on the final turn for a brief lead. But Ledecky surged and delivered the knockout punch over the final 50 metres with Pallister closing fast behind her.
Ledecky finished in eight minutes, 5.62 seconds with Pallister less than four-tenths of a second behind. McIntosh touched the wall 1.67 seconds after Ledecky.
The defeat ended McIntosh’s bid to match Michael Phelps’s record of five individual titles at a single world championship.
McIntosh said she would try to get the race out of her mind as quickly as possible with another shot at a gold medal coming up in the 400-metre individual medley on Sunday.
“I know I’m the favourite going in so it’s a bit of a different set-up. I’m excited to finish off this meet with a really strong swim and I have full confidence for the IM,” she added.
“I went into the 800 free with full confidence as well so I think this is a really big learning lesson for me.”
Canada has now won seven medals at the world aquatics championships — six in swimming and one in diving.