Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh avoid showdown, earn Pro Series wins in 1500m and 200m freestyle

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Katie Ledecky competes in the women's 800M freestyle final during the USA Swimming Pro Swim Series Austin at Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on Jan. 17, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Alex Slitz via Getty Images


Katie Ledecky is keeping fans waiting for the next heavyweight matchup between the nine-time Olympic gold medalist and Canadian star Summer McIntosh.

Ledecky, who was seeded to swim in the 200m freestyle against McIntosh at the Westmont Pro Swim Series in Illinois, scratched the event in favor of the longer 1500m freestyle.

Although there was no rematch between the world's best, both Ledecky and McIntosh delivered Friday night, posting some of the fastest times in the world this year in their respective events.

Ledecky was up first, dominating the pool in the 1500m freestyle, stopping the clock in 16:40.86, 41.66 seconds faster than second place. Her swim is another top-10 time in the world this year. Ledecky already occupies the top spot from her mark set at the Austin Pro Swim Series. Her swim on Jan. 14 was the second-fastest performance in history behind her 2018 world record.

Later in the session, McIntosh smashed the fastest time in the world this year by 2.82 seconds, winning the 200m freestyle in a blazing 1:53.80. The previous mark was set in January by American Claire Weinstein, who won bronze at the World Championships last summer. McIntosh is the fifth-fastest performer in history in the event with her best time being 1:53.65 in 2023.

On Wednesday night Ledecky defeated McIntosh in the 800m freestyle, which ended up being the only time they raced head-to-head this week. They posted the first- and third-fastest times in the world this year in the event, posting 8:08.57 and 8:10.45 respectively.

Ledecky’s time was the 13th-fastest performance in history. She has won the last four Olympic 800m free gold medals and won her seventh straight 800m free at the World Championships last summer, becoming the first swimmer to claim seven world titles in one event.

During the second day of the 2026 Pro Swim Series – Westmont, Summer McIntosh won the women’s 200 butterfly in 2:04.72. It is the fastest time in the world this year, and she became the first swimmer in history to break the 2:05 barrier ten times in the event. pic.twitter.com/QZiudbUboE

— Swimming Stats (@SwimmingStats) March 6, 2026

Last night McIntosh won the 200-meter butterfly in 2:04.72. The 19-year-old went under two minutes and five seconds for the 10th time in her career, which is three more times than any other woman in history. She will contest the 200m IM on Saturday and try to go 3-for-3 in Westmont.

The Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont finishes Saturday, with the finals starting at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock.

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