Pan Pacific Championships Night Four Finals: Women’s 800 Freestyle
The final night was the anticipated Ledecky-Pallister III.
After strong battles between U.S. star Katie Ledecky and Aussie Lani Pallister produced head-to-head wins for each, the final individual race of the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships would break the tie.
Ledecky won the 1500 freestyle and Pallister won the 400 free, each in decently close races, but with a clear winner.
The final night from the Wollett Aquatic Center in Irvine, California, brought the 800 freestyle showdown that has been looming all week.
It was anticipated to be the closest of the races and the best chance for Ledecky to be unseated in the 800 free. It happened and it happened.
Ledecky, the world record holder had been as fast as 8:04.12 in 2025. Actually, three of her top four times came in 2025. She has 16 of the 20 fastest times in the event with only Pallister and Canada’s Summer McIntosh breaking into the top 20 swims.
Pallister came in with the sixth-fastest time ever (8:05.98) and the third-fastest performer behind Ledecky and McIntosh (8:05.07).
Saturday’s finals lived up to the hype as Pallister handed Ledecky her first second-place finish in international competition in the 800.
Pallister credited Ledecky’s place in history as elevating the sport, especially in the 800.
“Without her (this wouldn’t have happened). It is because we are all chasing Katie,” Pallister said in the on-deck interview.
Pallister opened with a slight lead through the 100, 150, 200, 250, 300. Pallister lead by eight tenths of a second after 300 as her lead grew just a bit.
At the 400, Pallister was a halfway at 4:00.70 and a half second ahead of Ledecky at the 500, as they both split 30s.
At the 600, Pallister was a body length ahead by three tenths of a second, which stood through the 650 and the 700.
Every lap had Pallister just ahead, including the final turn.
Ledecky picked up the pace on the final 50 desperately trying to make up the gap, but Pallister never wavered and finished in 8:06.10.
Ledecky was second in 8:07.26, the first time she was beaten in the event in international competition.
New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather was third in 8:18.31.
