Puig continued her surprising run by reaching the women’s singles final, eliminating two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
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Jazz Carlin of Britain took the silver, touching in 8:16.17, and Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas finished in 8:16.37 to earn the bronze. It was also 12 seconds after Ledecky finished that the silver medalist finally touched the wall.
The 19-year-old’s sheer dominance in the 800-meter freestyle was plain to see. That was her only event.
Ervin won his first individual gold medal in a dead-heat in the same event with teammate Gary Hall Jr at the 2000 Sydney Games.
She won five medals and became the third American swimmer, after Amy Van Dyken and Missy Franklin, to win four golds.
It’s fitting that Ledecky closed out these games with the 800: Back in 2012, it was her shocking win in this event (at age 15, she beat then-world record holder Rebecca Adlington) that announced Ledecky’s presence as a swimmer with superstar potential.
Hosszu led from the start, reacting fastest from the block, but DiRado shadowed her the whole way.
“I felt that it was faster than any 800 I’ve ever done before”, she said when asked whether she believed she had the record, “so I was pretty sure”.
“I hit all my goals right on the nose this week”, Ledecky said.
What makes Ledecky so good? Simone Manuel is in the women’s 50 free finals and likely for the women’s 4×100 medley relay.
“I’m happy”, Phelps said. Sports Illustrated asked Dave Marsh, coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s team, for his theory, and he told the magazine: “I’ve experienced the passion and depth with which Katie trains and races”.
Where does Ledecky go from here?
Ledecky rarely shows her emotions, maintaining the sort of even keel that works so well in the pool.
Egypt’s Islam El Shehaby, blue, declines to shake hands with Israel’s Or Sasson, white, after losing during the men’s over 100-kg judo competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. “She’s not afraid, and her mind is open to everything”.
Phelps is expected to resume his rivalry with South African Chad le Clos in a battle for gold in the 100 meters butterfly.
A packed schedule on Saturday features the finals of the women’s 100m and men’s 10,000m, while more gold medals will be up for grabs in the velodrome and the swimming programme concludes.
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With the win and defense of her Olympic title, Ledecky’s unbeaten streak moved to a ideal 15 for 15 in individual events at major worldwide meets. His legs felt leaden but his heart was light. “The Olympics are the pinnacle of our sport and after you have to wait another four years to have that moment and I just wanted to enjoy it all and put my very best swim out there”.
