The women's 800 metre freestyle event at the

2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

took place on 2–3 August at the

London Aquatics Centre The London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two swimming pools and a diving pool in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London. The centre, designed by architect Zaha Hadid as one of the main venues of the 2012 Summer Olymp ...

based at the Olympic park London. Aged only 15, American Katie Ledecky narrowly missed the world record on the final lap to recapture the Olympic title for the Americans since

Brooke Bennett Brooke Marie Bennett (born May 6, 1980) is an American former competition swimmer and three-time Olympic champion. Swimming career 1996 Summer Olympics ' Bennett's first gold medal came in the 800-meter freestyle race at the 1996 Summer Olymp ...

topped the podium in 2000. Strengthening her lead almost the entire race, she headed into the 750-metre turn under world-record pace, and pulled off a stunning upset from the rest of the field to post a personal best and smash

Janet Evans Janet Beth Evans (born August 28, 1971) is an American former competition swimmer who specialized in distance freestyle events. Evans was a world champion and world record-holder, and won a total of four gold medals at the 1988 and the 1992 Ol ...

' 23-year-old U.S. record in 8:14.63. Spain's Mireia Belmonte García added a second silver to her Olympic hardware in a national record of 8:18.76. Meanwhile, Great Britain's

Rebecca Adlington Rebecca Adlington (born 17 February 1989) is a British former competitive swimmer who specialised in freestyle events in international competition. She won two gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 400-metre freestyle and 800-metre ...

, the reigning Olympic champion, tried to hold on with Ledecky earlier through the race, but faded down the stretch to pick up a bronze in 8:20.32. New Zealand's Lauren Boyle produced a spectacular swim to finish with a fourth-place time and an Oceanian record in 8:22.72. Meanwhile, Denmark's

Lotte Friis Lotte Friis (born 9 February 1988) is a Danish competitive swimmer from Allerød Municipality. Career Friis was born in Blovstrød. Finishing third in the 1500 metre freestyle competition at the European Championships 2008 in Eindhoven she wo ...

, the defending bronze medalist, opened up the race with an early lead, but dropped back to fifth in 8:23.86 to hold off a fast-charging Hungarian

Boglárka Kapás Boglárka Kapás (; born 22 April 1993) is a Hungarian competitive swimmer. She is the world champion ( 2019 Gwangju) in 200 m butterfly and a bronze medallist at the Olympic Games ( 2016 Rio de Janeiro) in 800 m freestyle. Career Kapás won ...

(8:23.89) on the final lap by almost a fingertip. France's

Coralie Balmy Coralie Balmy (born 8 June 1987) is a French freestyle swimmer. Balmy was born in La Trinité, Martinique. She won her first senior title at the 2008 European Aquatics Championships in Eindhoven in the 4 × 200 m relay freestyle. At the same ...

(8:29.26) and Venezuela's

Andreina Pinto Andreina del Valle Pinto Pérez (born 10 September 1991) is an Olympic and National Record holding swimmer from Venezuela. She swam for Venezuela at the 2008 Olympics. She also swam at the: * 2007 World Championships *2007 Pan American Game ...

(8:29.28) rounded out the field in one of the program's long-distance pool races.

Records

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.

Results

Heats

Final

References

External links

NBC Olympics Coverage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics - Women's 800 metre freestyle Women's 00800 metre freestyle 2012 in women's swimming Women's events at the 2012 Summer Olympics