Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 800 metre freestyle
The competition in the 800 meters freestyle of women in the 2012 Olympics in London was held on 2 and 3 August 2012 at the London Aquatics Centre. 36 athletes took part.
There were five heats. The eight fastest swimmers of all heats qualified for the final, which was held on the same day.
Abbreviations: WR = World Record, OR = Olympic Record, NR = national record ER = European record, NAR = North America record, SAR = South America record, ASR = Asian record, AFR = Africa record, OZR = Ozeanienrekord PB = personal best, JWB = Jahresweltbestzeit
Existing Records
Title holders
Leader
Flow 1
August 2, 2012
Flow 2
August 2, 2012
Forward 3
August 2, 2012
Forward 4
August 2, 2012
Forward 5
August 2, 2012
Final
For the first time beat all the finalists in a time of under 8:30 minutes. Katie Ledecky is the youngest winner over this distance and the seventh youngest Olympic gold medalist in swimming. In addition, she swam the second fastest time ever recorded on this route. Mireia Belmonte is the first Spanish medalist in this discipline.
August 3, 2012, 19:45 CET Clock
Video recordings
- Heats
- Final
Gallery
Mireia Belmonte ( ESP), who won the silver medal
Titelverteidegerin Rebecca Adlington (GBR ) wins bronze
Lotte Friis (DEN), 5th place