How Do Ledecky and McIntosh Swim The 800? Stroke Count Analysis

By Will Baxley on SwimSwam
It’s only June, and the women’s 800 free has already experienced its fastest year ever. 
After Katie Ledecky delivered a mind-boggling 8:04.79 to win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, nobody neared that time for eight more years – Ledecky included. Flash forward to 2025, and Ledecky suddenly rekindled the spark she had in 2016, breaking her own world record in 8:04.12. She showed the swim wasn’t a fluke by following it up with an 8:05.76 at U.