The stage is set for a thrilling showdown between Summer McIntosh of Canada and Katie Ledecky of the United States in the 800-metre freestyle event at the world championships in Singapore. The two swimming superstars have been building up to this moment, with their rivalry intensifying over the past year.
McIntosh, just 18 years old, has already achieved remarkable success, winning three gold medals and one silver at the Paris Olympics. She broke multiple records, including a national record in the 200-metre butterfly, but fell short of breaking the world record in that event.
Ledecky, 28, is widely regarded as the women’s swimming GOAT (Greatest of All Time). She has dominated the sport for years, holding multiple world records and Olympic medals.
The two swimmers will face off on Saturday at 8:17 a.m. ET, with McIntosh looking to capture her fifth solo gold medal and Ledecky seeking to beat Phelps’ record of four gold medals at worlds.
According to numbers crunching by Shoreview Sports Analytics, McIntosh has a slight edge in average expected range (0.24 seconds) but Ledecky leads in projected fastest time (0.07 seconds). The stage is set for an intense battle between these two swimming powerhouses.
This highly anticipated showdown is part of the world championships, with live coverage available on CBC Gem and CBCSports.ca.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/the-buzzer-world-aquatics-championships-summer-mcintosh-vs-katie-ledecky-1.7598965