Ledecky sees 9-year win streak in U.S. snapped
Summer McIntosh ended Katie Ledecky’s nine-year winning streak in the United States on Friday when the Canadian teenager touched first in the 200-meter freestyle at a Pro Series swim meet in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
McIntosh, 16, clocked a winning time of 1 minute, 54.13 seconds, finishing 0.83 seconds clear of Ledecky and lowering her world junior record set at last year’s world championships.
It marked the first defeat for Ledecky in a domestic freestyle long course final of 200 meters or longer since a loss to Allison Schmitt in 2014.
“I’m really happy with that swim,” McIntosh, who became the ninth fastest woman in history in the event, told Peacock. “It hurt really bad.”
Ledecky is a seven-time Olympic gold medalist who dominates in the longer freestyle distances, including golds in the 800-meter freestyle at the past three Olympics.
She has not confirmed her schedule for next year’s Paris Olympics, where McIntosh will also be a medal threat.
At last year’s world championships, Ledecky grabbed gold in the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyles and the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. McIntosh won the 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter individual medley and finished second to Ledecky in the 400 free.