A two-time world champion in the 400m free, Ledecky now owns nine of the 10 fastest times in the women’s 400m history. “I’d love another swim but that’s totally up to the coaches”.
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Ledecky also broke her own world records in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle during the World Championship competition, as well as setting a new world record during a qualifying race- nearly by accident.
She won in 3:56.46, followed by Britain’s Jazz Carlin and American Leah Smith. As the 800-meter freestyle and 1,500-meter freestyle world-record holder, she’s considered a long-distance specialist, but she’ll also be competing in Monday’s 200-meter freestyle, and she posted Team USA’s fastest split in Saturday’s silver-medal-winning 4x100m relay.
She’ll have another shot at the mark during the finals Sunday night, which will be the second consecutive night Ledecky takes center stage in Rio.
“I could hear it at the end a little bit, but I wasn’t paying too much attention to it. because I was just setting myself up for tonight”, she said.
Ledecky’s medal haul is now up to three gold and one silver in four races so far.
After the race, Ledecky casually noted that her goal was a sub-3:57 clocking.
It was the sixth world record to fall in just two days of competition at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. She said she slept until around 11 a.m. before heading to the pool for her 400 free prelim.
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Ledecky kicked off the first wall with a lead of almost a body length and steadily pulled away from the overmatched field – as well as the world-record line superimposed on the video screen as her powerful arms churned through the water. It’s pure happiness.I felt good throughout.
