Lauren Boyle (NZL) imposes her pace in the 800m free

RENANG INDONESIA. Without Camille Muffat (FRA), the recent new world record holder in the distance, the main fight in the race occurred between Lauren Boyle (NZL), fourth at the 2012 Olympics in this event, and Lotte Friis (DEN), the bronze medallist in this event at the 2008 Olympics and winner of the 1500m free at the FINA World Championships Shanghai 2011. Friis got some advance in the first laps, but Boyle took a decisive option for victory from the 400m-mark onwards. In the end, the New Zealander got the gold in 8:08.62, narrowly missing the Championships Record, owned since 2008 by Rebecca Adlington. Friis arrived second in 8:10.99, while the bronze went to US Chloe Sutton in a “distant” 8:15.53.

World Record: Camille Muffat (FRA), 8:01.06 – November 16, 2012 in Angers (FRA)
Championships Record: Rebecca Adlington (GBR), 8:08.25 – April 10, 2008 in Manchester (GBR)
Best performance of the current season (since August 2012): Camille Muffat (FRA, 8:01.06 – November in Angers, FRA) 
Last five (2002-2010) winners in this event: 2002 - Hua Chen (CHN, 8:16.34); 2004 - Sachiko Yamada (JPN, 8:18.21); 2006 - Anastasia Ivanenko (RUS, 8:11.99); 2008 - Rebecca Adlington (GBR, 8:08.25); 2010 - Erika Villaecija (ESP, 8:11.61)
The best in this event (1. most victories or 2. fastest time): Hua Chen (CHN, 1999, 2000 & 2002)