As was the case in the 400 free, where she crushed her own world record, Ledecky was merely racing the clock as she powered away from the field to touch in 8 minutes, 4.79 seconds, eclipsing the mark of 8:06.68 that she set at a grand prix meet in Texas back in January.
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ERVIN COMEBACK: Sixteen years after winning his first individual gold Olympic medal, Anthony Ervin picked up his second with a furious dash across the pool. Ledecky touched nearly half a length in front of her closest rivals – more than 11 seconds in front of silver medallist Jazz Carlin of Britain’s 8:16.17 with Boglarka Kapas of Hungary taking bronze in 8:16.37. “I’m gonna try to make the team”, he said.
With his arms cloaked in tattoos, Ervin – now the oldest man on the United States swimming team – returned to claim a second titleAugust by the narrowest of margins, edging out defending champion Florent Manaudou of France, by 0.01 seconds.
It was the second-largest margin of victory in the women’s 800-meter freestyle ever, and she also broke her own world record in the race for the fifth time, finishing in 8 minutes, 4.79 seconds, shaving nearly two seconds off her previous record.
Ledecky’s Friday win completes her sweep of three events at the same Olympics – the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle, on top of the 800 – making her the first woman to do so since USA swimmer Debbie Meyer did so at Mexico City in 1968.
Ervin – now the oldest man on the U.S. swimming team – showed no signs of resting on his laurels. “I could feel that it’s faster than any other swim I’ve had in that event”. She also joins Amy Van Dyken and Missy Franklin among the only American women to win four gold medals in a single Olympics. The bronze went to Canada’s Hilary Caldwell. They all touched in 51.14 – a half-body length behind Schooling’s winning time of 50.39.
For DiRado, who is leaving the sport to take up a job in management consultancy, it was the ideal way to exit after a week in which she amassed two gold medals, one silver and one bronze. “I’m just proud to be part of that history”.
Hosszu was in reflective mood after claiming her fourth medal of the Games.
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“This is the first time I’ve ever seen her in tears”, added Ledecky’s superstar teammate.
