Lani Pallister of Australia achieved her first international win against Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships on Saturday night. Pallister completed the race in 8 minutes, 6.10 seconds, surpassing Ledecky's 2018 championship record. Ledecky, a four-time Olympic champion in the event, secured silver with a season-best time of 8:07.26.
This marks Ledecky's first international defeat in the 800m freestyle. Her only other loss in an 800m free final since 2010 occurred in a domestic meet in February 2024 against Summer McIntosh.
Elsewhere at the championships, Kate Douglass lowered her own world record in the 50m freestyle for the second time on Saturday, winning the final in 23.19 seconds. She also anchored the U.S. women to a championship record victory in the 4 x 100 medley relay.
China's Yu Yiting won the 200 individual medley, setting a championship record of 2:07.45. Canada's Summer McIntosh took silver in the event.