Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's 800 metre freestyle

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Women's 800 metre freestyle
at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad
Paris La Défense Arena after it was converted to a swimming pool for the swimming events
VenueParis La Défense Arena
Dates2 August 2024
(Heats)
3 August 2024
(Final)
Competitors16 from 13 nations
Winning time8:11.04
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Katie Ledecky  United States
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Ariarne Titmus  Australia
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Paige Madden  United States
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Swimming at the
2024 Summer Olympics
Qualification
Freestyle
50 mmenwomen
100 mmenwomen
200 mmenwomen
400 mmenwomen
800 mmenwomen
1500 mmenwomen
Backstroke
100 mmenwomen
200 mmenwomen
Breaststroke
100 mmenwomen
200 mmenwomen
Butterfly
100 mmenwomen
200 mmenwomen
Individual medley
200 mmenwomen
400 mmenwomen
Freestyle relay
4 × 100 mmenwomen
4 × 200 mmenwomen
Medley relay
4 × 100 mmenmixedwomen
Marathon
10 kmmenwomen

The women's 800 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held from 2 to 3 August 2024 at Paris La Défense Arena, which was converted to a swimming pool for the swimming events.[1] Since an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, each competitor had to swim 16 lengths of the pool.

The US' defending Olympic champion Katie Ledecky was considered the favourite for the event, having won it at the previous three Olympics. Other competitors included Australia's Ariarne Titmus, Italy's Simona Quadarella, the US' Paige Madden, Australia's Lani Pallister and China's Li Bingjie. All except Li qualified for the final.

In the final, Ledecky led from beginning to end to win with a time of 8:11.04. Titmus finished second with a new Oceanic record of 8:12.29, Madden finished third with 8:13.00 and Quadarella finished fourth with a new Italian record of 8:14.55. Ledecky's win made her the first female Olympic swimmer to win the same event at four successive Olympics, and gave her her ninth gold medal, which meant she became tied for the female Olympian with the most gold medals.

Background

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The US' defending Olympic champion Katie Ledecky had won the event at the previous three Olympics, and held the 16 fastest times ever recorded in the event, which included her 8:04.79 world record set at the 2016 Olympics.[2] She also held the fastest Olympic qualifying time of 8:07.07.[3]

Australia's Ariarne Titmus held the third fastest qualifying time of 08:13.59, and the second fastest time in 2024 of 8:14.06. Other contenders included Italy's Simona Quadarella, the defending Olympic bronze medallist; the US' Paige Madden, who beat her personal best by seven seconds at the US Olympic Trials to qualify with a time of 8:20.71; Australia's Lani Pallister, who qualified with the fourth fastest time of 8:15.11; and China's Li Bingjie, who qualified with the second fastest time of 8:13.31 and was the 2023 World Championships silver medallist.[2]

Both SwimSwam and Swimming World predicted Ledecky would win gold and Titmus would win silver.[2][4]

Qualification

[edit]
Further information: Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Qualification

Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) was permitted to enter a maximum of two qualified athletes in each individual event, but only if both of them had attained the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT).[5] For this event, the OQT was 8:26.71. World Aquatics then considered athletes qualifying through universality; NOCs were given one event entry for each gender, which could be used by any athlete regardless of qualification time, providing the spaces had not already been taken by athletes from that nation who had achieved the OQT.[5][3] Finally, the rest of the spaces were filled by athletes who had met the Olympic Consideration Time (OCT), which was 8:29.24 for this event.[5] In total, 11 athletes qualified through achieving the OQT, 12 athletes qualified through universality places and two athletes qualified through achieving the OCT.[3]

Top 10 fastest qualification times[3]
Swimmer Country Time Competition
Katie Ledecky  United States 08:07:07 2023 United States National Championships
Li Bingjie  China 08:13:31 2023 World Aquatics Championships
Ariarne Titmus  Australia 08:13:59 2023 World Aquatics Championships
Lani Pallister  Australia 08:15:11 2023 World Aquatics World Cup
Simona Quadarella  Italy 08:16:46 2023 World Aquatics Championships
Isabel Marie Gose  Germany 08:17:53 2024 World Aquatics Championships
Paige Madden  United States 08:20:71 2024 United States Olympic Trials
Erika Fairweather  New Zealand 08:21:06 2023 World Aquatics Championships
Eve Thomas  New Zealand 08:22:27 2024 New Zealand Championships
Anastasiya Kirpichnikova  France 08:22:74 2023 World Aquatics Championships

Heats

[edit]

Two heats (preliminary rounds) took place on 2 August 2024, starting at 11:40.[a][6] The swimmers with the best eight times in the heats advanced to the final.[7] Ledecky qualified with the fastest time of 8:16.62, while Madden qualified second with a new personal best of 8:18.48.[8] SwimSwam reported after the race that she was improving rapidly.[9] Titmus, Pallister, Germany's Isabel Marie Gose, Quadarella, New Zealand's Erika Fairweather and France's Anastasiya Kirpichnikova also qualified, while Li did not.[10] Singapore's Gan Ching Hwee set a new national record of 8:32.37 but did not qualify.[11]

Results[6]
Rank Heat Lane Swimmer Nation Time Notes
1 2 4 Katie Ledecky  United States 8:16.62 Q
2 2 6 Paige Madden  United States 8:18.48 Q
3 2 5 Ariarne Titmus  Australia 8:19.87 Q
4 1 5 Lani Pallister  Australia 8:20.21 Q
5 1 3 Isabel Marie Gose  Germany 8:20.63 Q
6 2 3 Simona Quadarella  Italy 8:20.89 Q
7 1 6 Erika Fairweather  New Zealand 8:22.22 Q
8 1 2 Anastasiya Kirpichnikova  France 8:22.99 Q
9 1 4 Li Bingjie  China 8:27.92
10 1 7 Maria Fernanda Costa  Brazil 8:32.20
11 1 1 Gan Ching Hwee  Singapore 8:32.37 NR
12 2 2 Eve Thomas  New Zealand 8:33.25
13 2 7 Ajna Késely  Hungary 8:36.13
14 2 1 Agostina Hein  Argentina 8:37.43
15 2 8 Kristel Köbrich  Chile 8:46.46
16 1 8 Jamila Boulakbech  Tunisia 9:21.38

Final

[edit]
External videos
video icon Women's 800 metre freestyle final

The final took place at 21:28 on 3 August.[12] Ledecky led from start to finish to win the gold medal with a time of 8:11.04.[13][14] Titmus remained close behind Ledecky for most the race, and finished with a new Oceanic record of 8:12.29 to win silver.[13][15] Madden won bronze with 8:13.00, which was her first Olympic medal,[14][16] while Quadarella finished fourth with a new Italian record of 8:14.55.[14] SwimSwam writer Yanyan Li speculated after the event that the competition in the race was "truly a sign that [Ledecky] is not quite lonely at the top anymore", as she had won by such large margins at the major events for so long.[13] Swimming World called Madden's medal a "top swimming surprise" due to her rapid improvement leading up to the event.[17]

Ledecky's win made her the first female Olympic swimmer to win the same event at four successive Olympics.[18] Her win gave her her fourteenth Olympic medal.[14] It was also her ninth gold medal, which meant she was tied for the female Olympian with the most gold medals with gymnast Larisa Latynina from Russia.[19][15]

Results[12]
Rank Lane Swimmer Nation Time Notes
1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 Katie Ledecky  United States 8:11.04
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3 Ariarne Titmus  Australia 8:12.29 OC
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 Paige Madden  United States 8:13.00
4 7 Simona Quadarella  Italy 8:14.55 NR
5 2 Isabel Marie Gose  Germany 8:17.82
6 6 Lani Pallister  Australia 8:21.09
7 8 Anastasiya Kirpichnikova  France 8:22.80
8 1 Erika Fairweather  New Zealand 8:23.27
Statistics[20]
Name 200 metre split 400 metre split 600 metre split Time Stroke rate (strokes/min)
Katie Ledecky 01:58.71 04:03.20 06:08.01 8:11.04 46.0
Ariarne Titmus 01:58.97 04:03.49 06:08.83 8:12.29 42.0
Paige Madden 02:01.80 04:06.50 06:10.07 8:13.00 40.5
Simona Quadarella 02:01.72 04:06.29 06:10.92 8:14.55 49.7
Isabel Marie Gose 02:02.44 04:06.96 06:12.52 8:17.82 45.8
Lani Pallister 02:01.07 04:06.26 06:13.19 8:21.09 44.4
Anastasiya Kirpichnikova 02:02.38 04:08.31 06:15.40 8:22.80 47.3
Erika Fairweather 02:02.37 04:08.46 06:17.51 8:23.27 40.1

Further reading

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  • Haji, Paras J. "Paige Madden On Her Limit-Breaking Journey Of 2024 Paris Olympics". Forbes. Retrieved 19 February 2025.

Notes

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  1. ^ All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

References

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  1. ^ Burgaud, Florian (22 July 2024). "From concert hall and rugby stadium to Olympic swimming pool arena in a matter of weeks, the metamorphosis of the Paris La Défense Arena is complete". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee (IOC). Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Wells, Charlotte (9 July 2024). "2024 Olympic Previews: Is Ledecky's Throne Under Attack In The Women's 800 Free?". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Entries list - Swimming, World Aquatics, archived from the original on 12 July 2024, retrieved 18 December 2024
  4. ^ Rieder, David (25 July 2024). "Olympic Swimming Predictions, Day 8: Can Katie Ledecky Accomplish Four-Peat in 800 Freestyle?". Swimming World. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Paris 2024 – Swimming Info". World Aquatics. 5 April 2022. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Results" (PDF). olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Olympic swimming rules: How can swimmers qualify for finals and win medals - format explained". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee (IOC). 24 July 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  8. ^ Penland, Spencer (2 August 2024). "2024 Paris Olympics: Day 7 Prelims Live Recap". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 24 December 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  9. ^ Rosado, Laura (2 August 2024). "2024 Paris Olympics: Paige Madden Clocks PB in 800 Free Heats to Become #5 American All-Time". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  10. ^ Rosado, Laura (2 August 2024). "2024 Paris Olympics: Paige Madden Clocks PB in 800 Free Heats to Become #5 American All-Time". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  11. ^ Bush, Bradley (2 August 2024). "2024 Paris Olympics Data Dive: Day 7 Prelims". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 25 December 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Results" (PDF). olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Li, Yanyan (4 August 2024). "Paris 2024, North America Day 8: Ledecky Four-Peats, But Is It The End Of An Era?". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d Penland, Spencer (4 August 2024). "2024 Paris Olympics: Day 8 Finals Live Recap". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  15. ^ a b Liew, Jonathan (3 August 2024). "Katie Ledecky holds off Ariarne Titmus to win fourth Olympic 800m gold in row". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  16. ^ Bush, Bradley (3 August 2024). "2024 Paris Olympics Day 8 Finals: Fun Facts". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  17. ^ Rieder, David (17 August 2024). "Paris Olympics: Paige Madden 800 Freestyle Bronze Was Top Swimming Surprise". Swimming World. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  18. ^ Gent, Oli (3 August 2024). "Paris 2024: Katie Ledecky holds off Ariarne Titmus to win fourth straight 800m freestyle gold". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  19. ^ "Katie Ledecky wins ninth Olympic gold with 800m freestyle victory at Paris 2024". BBC Sport. 3 August 2024. Archived from the original on 9 January 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  20. ^ Bodard, Simon; Decron, Nathan; Dernoncourt, Eric; Hui, Pierre; Jambu, Clément; Loisel, Camille; Pla, Robin; Raineteau, Yannis. "Jeux Olympiques 2024: Analyses de course des Finales" (PDF). French Swimming Federation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.