Katie Ledecky made history as the just second woman to win three individual freestyle events at a single Olympic Games on Friday night when she successfully defended her 2012 gold in the 800m freestyle.
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Ledecky is enjoying a fantastic second Olympic Games, having already won three gold medals and set a world record in the 400m freestyle.
The 2014 Commonwealth and European 800m freestyle champion was beaten by Ledecky, who took almost two seconds off her own world record to win almost 12 seconds clear of Carlin.
The eight-minute cruise, along with her victories earlier in the week in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle, made her the first woman to sweep the three events at the same Olympics since USA swimmer Debbie Meyer did so at Mexico City in 1968.
Showing Ledecky’s sheer dominance in the race: Her closest competitors’ times: Jazz Carlin was second at (8:16.17), and Boglárka Kapás was third at (8:16.37).
Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana poses next to a scoreboard showing her new world record in the women’s 10,000-meter final during the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016.
Gold medallist Katie Ledecky reacts after winning gold.
Anthony Ervin of the US reclaimed the mantle of fastest man in the water on 12 August by taking the Olympic 50m freestyle gold, a full 16 years after he first won it, and by the slimmest of margins.
Hosszu was in reflective mood after claiming her fourth medal of the Games.
“It’s surreal, kind of absurd and, you know, when I touched, turned around and saw the one next to my name, I kind of smiled and laughed”, Ervin said. Ervin also beat Michael Phelps at something: At the age of 35, Anthony Ervin is now the oldest person in history to win gold in an individual Olympic swimming event.
“I hit all my goals right on the nose this week”, she said.
Then she waited for the rest of the field finish. 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 on Saturday. It was my last one here.
“There was no way we were going to let it get away this time”.
Now, all eyes are on Ledecky, who at age 19 is still the youngest member of the US swim team in Rio.
Carlin said: “Obviously it’s been a tough week and I’ve been feeling a bit ropey the last couple of days but it was my last swim at the Olympics and I wanted to go out and do the best job I could do”. Ledecky also owns a gold and silver in relay events. Sjostrom herself had won Gold in the 100M butterfly 2 days before but when competing against the 19-year-old torpedo, Sarah knew there was going to be only one victor.
“The event is getting faster every year”, said Cochrane, who won silver in London four years ago and bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games.
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The defending Olympic champion added to her golds earlier in the week in the 200m and 400m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay, plus a silver in the 4x100m relay. “I think there are some pressures that come with being a professional swimmer, and I don’t think I am ready for that”. Michael Phelps is swimming his final race of this Olympics (and potentially the final race of his Olympic career), so it’s a must-watch.
