Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh and a race for ages at the World Swimming Championships

The world swimming championships that start this weekend are woven by an expected force test, unlike everything in the history of sport.

Katie Ledecky wants to become the first swimmer to win a seventh world title in an event. Summer McIntosh wants to become the second swimmer – after Michael Phelps – to win five individual gold medals in a single world.

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Only one of these exploits can occur during this competition in Singapore.

LEDECKY, the most decorated swimmer of all time, and McIntosh, an 18 -year -old Canadian, quickly climbing in the ranks of all time, should compete in the most awaited race of worlds – the 800m freestyle final on August 2, on the day of the lair of the eight -day competition.

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During the McIntosh training in France this year, she and coach Fred Vergnoux experienced what he called a long -term conversation.

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They talked about the 800m for free, an event that McIntosh had released his own major meeting program filled after placed 11th at the Tokyo Olympic Games at 14. McIntosh is now the best versatile swimmer in the world, dominating shorter events.

Ledecky won the 800m free in Tokyo, as she did in London and Rio and would do in Paris.

In 2028, she can become the first swimmer to win the same Olympic event for the fifth time – a point also raised between McIntosh and Vergnoux.

“Maybe summer would be the one who wanted to challenge this,” said Vergnoux.

McIntosh accepted the challenge a little early, for these world championships.

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She will face Ledecky not only in the free 400m, where they shared the podium with 2022 worlds and the 2024 Olympic Games, but also at 800m free – the Ledecky brand event.

“There were several reasons why I chose the 800m,” said McIntosh, not only the chance to run Ledecky, but also because he has placed well for his own calendar of five individual events. “I think it is, in my opinion, the biggest challenge.”

Ledecky lowered his own world record three months ago and had only a free final defeat of 800m in the past 15 years (more than 60 wins).

McIntosh is responsible for this defect. In February 2024, she defeated 5.73 seconds in a local competition in Orlando. The two trained in Florida at the time (Ledecky still does it).

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“I beat her in the 800m, and it is a shock for the world of swimming, I think that says much more about her than of me,” said McIntosh while respecting.

McIntosh grew up with A quote from Ledecky on the wall of his room. She said on several occasions that Ledecky had “revolutionized” swimming.

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“It’s always a big race when we are side by side,” said Ledecky after their last head to head, when she passed McIntosh to win a free 400m on May 1 in her second best time of all time.

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McIntosh’s competitive hunger has been apparent when she thought about her Olympic Paris performance: the gold medals in individual medleys 200m and 400m and 200m butterfly and silver in the 400m free behind the Australian Ariarne Titmus.

“I wanted to have four gold medals,” she started in an interview in the spring.

Overall, McIntosh said that she was “super happy” in the way things happened, although “a little disappointed” of the free 400m finalist.

She started working with Vergnoux after Christmas – the cross -training included her first cross -country ski.

She chose to go from four individual events in Paris to five both in these worlds and at the 2028 GAMES. She has not yet decided if her 2028 calendar will also include the 800m free or a fifth different event.

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The only swimmer to win five individual events at the Olympic Games or Worlds is Phelps. Legend Facetimed McIntosh After the Canadian trials last month. He congratulated him on becoming the first swimmer to beat a world record in three different individual events during a competition since his 2008 masterpiece of Beijing Games.

McIntosh did not break the free world record of the 800m of Ledecky on the tests, but it posted the third fastest period in history. His 8: 05.07 was 95 hundredths of the world record. The two combine for the 15 fastest times in history: 13 for Ledecky, two for McIntosh.

“(Ledecky) always brings the best of me, that is also why I am never nervous before a race (with it) because I know it’s going to be a fight until the end,” said McIntosh. “I’m going to have the best result because she will push me to do it.”

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Leon Marchand went from four individual events to two at the Singapore world championships.