Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh defeated Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle at an event in Florida on Thursday evening, ending the American star’s 13-year unbeaten streak in the distance.
The 17-year-old McIntosh hit the wall in a national record 8:11.39, beating Ledecky’s time of 8:17.12 at the Southern Zone South Sectional Championships in Orlando. The previous Canadian record was 8:20.19, set by Brittany MacLean at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships.
Ledecky, the three-time defending 800-meter champion and one of the most dominant swimmers in the sport’s history, owned an all-time top 29 times in Thursday’s race, according to NBC Sports. McIntosh’s time was the 17th fastest ever, leaving Ledecky in the top 16.
The American first set the world record for the 800 meters in 2013 and has since broken it four more times, setting the current mark of 8:04.79 at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Ledecky, who turns 27 next month, is expected to bid for a fourth consecutive gold medal in the 800 meters free in Paris, where she could become the first female swimmer to win the same Olympic event four times.
McIntosh is the world record holder in the 400-meter individual medley and now the second-fastest woman in history in the 400-meter free and 800-meter free.