Pallister breaks Ledecky’s world record, McKeown creates more history

Lani Pallister and Kaylee McKeown have continued Australia’s record breaking run at the short course swimming World Cup in Toronto.

Pallister followed up her Australian record in the 400m freestyle on day one by posting a world record in the 800m on Saturday, local time.

Her time of 7:54.00 also took more than three seconds off the previous record set in 2022 by American great Katie Ledecky.

McKeown broke her own world record in the 200m backstroke just a week after setting the previous mark in the World Cup event in Westmont.

Pallister dominated the 800m, winning by more than 15 seconds ahead of New Zealanders Erika Fairwather and Caitlin Deans.

The Australian went out hard, posting a halfway split that would have placed her second in the 400m, only behind her own winning time and two seconds under world record pace.

She then stretched the advantage further in the third 200m before closing out in style.

In her record-breaking swim, McKeown touched in 1:57.33, faster than her 1:57.87 from a week ago to edge out Regan Smith from the US who also swam just under McKeown’s previous mark with 1:57.86.

Fellow American Phoebe Bacon closed out the podium but was more than three seconds behind the Aussie star.

McKeown’s win puts her second in the overall World Cup standings and on top for the Toronto meet.

AAP