Smith, who was thrilled to finish less than two seconds behind Ledecky in the 400m free at the USA trials, said she knew Ledecky was primed for something big. “Just to keep my tempo up”. She’s got to be accessible, she’s got to do her sponsor commitments. She posted a time of one minute, 57.56 seconds and was officially eliminated from the final after the completion of the second semifinal heat. The previous world record stood at 3:58.37, which Ledecky set back in 2014. You don’t need a Stanford grad to tell you that’s pretty damn impressive.
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Michelle Coleman, Sjostrom’s countrywoman, is looking for her first medal on the world stage in the 200-meter discipline. I knew I was the big favourite.
Faster than fast, as it turned out. Hosszu won gold on Saturday night in the 400m individual medley. It was apparent the old record’s hours were growing short after Ledecky clocked a 3:58.71 in the afternoon preliminary heats. But this badly? This way?
There were a also pair of semifinals in the women’s 100m breaststroke and backstroke with two Americans leading the pack. After 200 meters, it was by 2.87 seconds.
“On the block I thought my heart was going to explode, I was so hyped, so excited”, Phelps said. “Part of you is in awe”, Smith said, “and part of you is trying to catch up to her”.
Except that you aren’t catching up to her.
There was high drama in the men’s 200 metre butterfly four years ago at London 2012 when South Africa’s Le Clos put in the performance of his life to pip the most decorated Olympian of all time to gold. She broke into a huge smile upon viewing the exact numbers. “It’s nothing. I know what to do'”.
“Before the start I said to myself it’s just a pool”.
Currently, the U.S.is the leading country on the second day of the Rio Olympics as the country bagged three golds, five silvers, and four bronze medals-a total of 12 medals. Sunday’s victory was her second medal in 24 hours after the United States woman’s team won a silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday.
But none of that came close to what Ledecky produced in terms of the extraordinary.
Her mother was also a swimmer. King finished more than a half-second ahead of Efimova, who was booed before the final.
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The crowd went into a frenzy at the sight of two Brazilians in the final. There may be other swimmers in the water with her whenever she participates in a race, but the only person capable of beating Ledecky is past versions of herself.
