There was absolutely no drama heading into the women’s 800-meter freestyle final. The 19-year-old American was tipped to obliterate the field and she did, retaining her Olympic title in a world record time of 8min 4.79sec.
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She already won a gold medal and set an awesome new record in the 400-meter freestyle, took another gold home from the 200-meter freestyle race, and earned yet another gold in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.
“Since I was a young girl, it’s been a dream to go to an Olympics”, said Carlin, who became the first British athlete at Rio 2016 to win multiple medals. There were nights I would go to bed and think about this day (and) how much fun I’ve had these past four years, and I’d start crying in bed.
For Ledecky, special is routine.
The only previous woman to win the 200, 400 and 800 freestyles at the same Games was American Debbie Meyer in 1968.
Hosszu settles for silver in 2:06.05, while Canada’s Hilary Caldwell took the bronze in 2:07.54.
But Friday’s victory provided the most compelling example yet of the extent to which Ledecky is dominating women’s swimming.
Great Britain’s Jazz Carlin finished in silver with 8:16.17, while Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas rounded out the podium with a time of 8:16.37.
“She’s an incredible athlete and she is going so fast, it leaves the rest of us having to scrape for the rest of the medals”, Carlin said. Since the London Games, she has lowered the world record in the event four times – by nearly eight seconds. For good measure, she earned silver anchoring the 4×100 free relay, showing the sort of speed that has only recently become part of her repertoire but bodes well for her branching out even more in the future.
“That’s just pure joy and surprise and excitement”, she said.
The joy Friday extended beyond Ledecky.
Joseph Schooling of Singapore built a big lead on the opening lap and easily held off the hard-charging Michael Phelps to win gold in the 100-meter butterfly. He grinned afterward, appeared relaxed and sounded at peace with the result.
DiRado won her fourth medal of the Games, but first gold, by denying Hosszu her fourth gold in Rio. “I know we’re all going to miss being here”. But he’ll have to do with some help from his teammates, swimming in the butterfly leg of the 400 medley relay on the final night of swimming Saturday.
And while we’re talking about retirement, Maya DiRado bowed out on a high note.
“Bruce doesn’t cry very often but it was a very happy moment and it’s been a pleasure to share this journey with him”, Ledecky told the media conference, saying she would be setting ambitious goals once at Stanford.
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Sixteen years after winning his first individual gold medal at the Olympics, Anthony Ervin picked up his second with a furious dash from one end of the pool to the other.
