At the turn of the year, American legend Katie Ledecky remained the only woman ever to race inside 8mins 11sec almost nine years after she clocked a sensational timeworn 8:04.79 for Olympic gold at Rio 2016.

Many a swim well ahead of the next fastest in the world down the years left that Rio riot of a swim in place but on May 3 in Fort Lauderdale, down the road from her training base at the Florida Gators with coach Anthony Nesty, Ledecky raced faster than she ever had before: 8:04.12:

Ledecky’s Legend Grows With 8:04.12 World Record From The Empress Of The League Of Longevity

“There is always a story to each world record that I set. I think tonight is the first one I’ve done when another American has done it. Hats off to Gretchen (Walsh) for getting us rolling this morning and starting a world record party.” - Katie Ledecky

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

If that was a response to the 8:09.86 in which Canadian Summer McIntosh, coached by Brent Arckey in the same southern state inn the U.S. as Ledecky, joined her in the sub-8:10 club back in February a year after becoming the first woman ever to defeat Ledecky in an 800m race since the American claimed the first of her Olympic titles at the age of 15 at London 2012, then last Sunday made the challenge somewhat steeper: at Canadian trials in Victoria, the title Olympic champion of Paris 2024 set a 8:05.07 Commonwealth record:

Commonwealth Crusher: McIntosh 8:05 WR Rattler Ends Ledecky’s 800 Dominance On Clock

“I’m always hoping to break records and push the boundaries of sport. I’m always trying to be faster and faster. That just gives me more fuel to the fire.” - Summer McIntosh

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Ledecky has few the proximity of her nearest rivals - and coped with it - on all major championship and Games occasions from London 2012 onwards an d remains unbeaten in the 800m when it most counts. McIntosh's 8:05.07 is the first time, however, that the American's top clock has felt the gust of 'within a second of me'.

Today, Lani Pallister, coached by Dean Boxall at S Peter's Western, did not quite get there but she did race into uncharted waters in Australia in a pace faster than the first five of 7 World records set over the distance by Stephen Holland back in the 1970s joined them in the sub-8:10 zone just shy of the under-8:10 club in an Australian record of 8mins 10.84.

Holland's last 800 standard, 8:02.91, remains beyond the scope of the best women almost 50 years on. Yes, that's the gap, and the point of noting male legends from the past when referring to women''s times is not a comment of comparison, merely a point of perspective and interest, such as "Titmus Year X as fast as Spitz Year Y".

Today, Pallister, in breaking the national mark set by Ariane Titmus for Olympic silver behind Ledecky, 8:11.04 to 8:12.29, in Paris last year, became the third woman in history to race inside 8:11.

“I’ve wanted that record for so long,” Pallister said, before paying plaudits to teammate Titmus. “I have a lot to thank her for with what she’s done in inspiring me as an athlete.”

When asked about keeping the 200m in her program, in which she qualified in second place behind Olympic champion Mollie O'Callaghan, alongside the 400 and 800 with the 1500m event to go, Pallister said:

“Absolutely not. I’ve already told Dean (Boxall) … I don’t want it. The 200 is not an event that I particularly like as an individual swim. It’s one for me that when I go into the relay, it’s so much fun, and I get to go and stand behind the blocks with some of my best friends and get up and show the world what we can all do together. The 400, 800 and 1500, I’m pretty used to doing … so I’m not stressed about the load whatsoever.”

Pallister, daughter of former international-turned coach Janelle Elford, missed her big shot last year in Paris 2024 after a bout of Covid that left her below best and in sixth place on 8:21.09. The illness and rest required had less impact on her 200m swim as a member of the golden Aussie 4x200m free quartet that granted her Olympic-champion status forever more.

Here's how she swam today, comparisons with the all-time top 2 below her swim:

• 58.13; 1:59.60; 3:01.53; 4:03.54; 5:05.35; 6:07.50; 7:10.06; 8:10.84 (1:00.78) Pallister, Adelaide 12/06/2025
• 57.57; 1:58.38; 3:00.08; 4:01.78; 5:02.99; 6:04.27; 7:05.37; 8:04.12 (58.75) Ledecky, F' Lauderdale - 03/05/2025
• 57.79; 1:58.32; 2:59.56; 4:01.17; 5:02.50; 6:04.26; 7:05.47; 8:05.07 (59.60) McIntosh, Victoria - 08/06/2025

And see how shaken and stirred the all-time rankings for the 800m free are this year ... as we list all swims back to Ledecky's first Olympic gold at London 2012, her 8:14 now 59th all-time.