Australian Lani Pallister defeats Katie Ledecky in 800m freestyle at 2026 Pan Pacific Championships

Australian swimmer Lani Pallister claimed victory in the women's 800-metre freestyle final at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, finishing in 8:06.10. U.S. star Katie Ledecky placed second in 8:07.26, marking the first time the American has been beaten in the event at a senior international championship since her debut in 2012.

Pallister opened the race with a 400-metre split of 4:00.70, establishing a lead that grew to 1.64 seconds with 100 metres remaining. She completed the race with a final 50-metre segment of 28.84 seconds, holding off Ledecky’s closing 29.06. The performance was Pallister’s second-fastest ever and the seventh-fastest in history, surpassing Ledecky’s previous championship record of 8:11.35 set in 2014.

The result ended Ledecky’s unbeaten streak in the 800-metre freestyle at major international meets, a streak that began with her first senior win at the 2012 London Olympics. Ledecky, who set the world record of 8:04.12 in 2025, said the swim was her "best of the week," but acknowledged Pallister’s faster time.

Pallister also secured individual gold medals in the 200-metre freestyle and 400-metre freestyle at the same meet, and added a silver in the 1500-metre freestyle, where she finished within two and a half seconds of Ledecky. Her performances have positioned her as a leading contender in women's distance swimming heading toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.