It was Ledecky’s fifth gold in all as she successfully defended the title she won at London 2012, when she was 15.
Advertisement
Jazz Carlin claimed a second silver medal from Rio 2016 after chasing home the wonderful Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle.
“This whole day has been kind of insane because it’s all of these little last things that I’ve gotten to do, like my last warmup with the girls at the training pool today”, DiRado said.
DiRado’s upset denied Hosszu a fourth gold in Rio, and capped off a remarkable one-and-done Olympics for the American. Ledecky’s margin: “11.38 seconds”.
In the 1980s, American swimmer Janet Evans set records in the 400-, 800-, and 1,500-meter distances.
The race may have been Schmitt’s last swim but she was not ready to confirm anything.
Since that shocking win, Ledecky hasn’t looked back. “I could feel that it’s faster than any other swim I’ve had in that event”.
During her time in Rio, the 19-year-old phenom also set world records in winning the 400-meter freestyle (3:56.46) and the 800-meter freestyle (8:12.86).
Phelps confirmed to reporters, including The Gazette’s David Ramsey, that he will not compete in the 2020 Tokyo Games. While her rivals splash around, Ledecky twists through the water as if she’s being pulled by some hidden line. “It’s all just about doing my best every time”.
“She said I’m not going to sleep until I give you a hug”, Manuel said.
But Friday’s victory provided the most compelling example yet of the extent to which Ledecky is dominating women’s swimming. 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.
Speaking to the BBC after the swim, Carlin was eager to show her gratitude to her family watching from the crowd.
“I finally started believing in myself”, Carlin told BBC Sport. “But she has this energy stirring in her, not just at meets but at practice”. She went on to win, adding another gold to match the medals she won in the 200- and 400-meter freestyle.
Ledecky finished in 8 minutes, 4.79 seconds to better the mark set in January by nearly two seconds – her second world record at these Games – and win her fourth gold medal.
Advertisement
Jazz Carlin has won a second silver medal in the Rio Olympics after she took second in the women’s 800m freestyle. That was her only event. Coming into the Rio Games, she owned the top 10 times in the event. She holds the 800-meter world record time of 8:06.68.
