2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Swimming: August 6-13
- Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
- Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
- SwimSwam previews
- Schedule & Results
Katie Ledecky survived her closest shave in an Olympic final yet, winning gold in the 200 free, missing the American record by a tenth and moving up to #3 in history at the Rio Olympics.
Ledecky went 1:53.73 to win one of the most closely-contested international golds of her career so far, topping Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom by just over three tenths.
That keeps Ledecky a perfect 14-for-14 in individual international finals. On top of those 14 golds, she’s won three major relay golds and a silver. Here’s a look at Ledecky’s international resume thus far:
Individual Races:
- 2012 Olympics – 800 free GOLD
- 2013 Worlds – 400 free GOLD
- 2013 Worlds – 800 free GOLD
- 2013 Worlds – 1500 free GOLD
- 2014 Pan Pacs – 200 free GOLD
- 2014 Pan Pacs – 400 free GOLD
- 2014 Pan Pacs – 800 free GOLD
- 2014 Pan Pacs – 1500 free GOLD
- 2015 Worlds – 200 free GOLD
- 2015 Worlds – 400 free GOLD
- 2015 Worlds – 800 free GOLD
- 2015 Worlds – 1500 free GOLD
- 2016 Olympics – 200 free GOLD
- 2016 Olympics – 400 free GOLD
Relays:
- 2013 Worlds – 4×200 free relay GOLD
- 2014 Pan Pacs- 4×200 free relay GOLD
- 2015 Worlds – 4×200 free relay GOLD
- 2016 Olympics – 4×100 free relay SILVER
Ledecky still has the individual 800 free and 4×200 free relay left in Rio, and could push her total medal count as high as 19 golds and 1 silver.
As for this individual 200 free, Ledecky moves to #3 all-time with the 4th-best performance of all-time: 1:53.73. World record-holder Federica Pellegrini has two of the top three swims, sandwiched around the American record held by Allison Schmitt:
Top 200 freestyles in History:
- Federica Pellegrini, ITA (2009 Worlds): 1:52.98
- Allison Schmitt, USA (2012 Olympics): 1:53.61
- Federica Pellegrini, ITA (2009 Worlds): 1:53.67
- Katie Ledecky, USA (2016 Olympics): 1:53.73
- Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2016 Olympics): 1:54.08
Silver medalist Sarah Sjostrom improves her Swedish record, which was previously the 4th-fastest in history. Her new time sits #5.
Should Ledecky swim preliminary for 4×100 Medley Relay?
Why not final? Ledecky and Weitzeil showed practically same time at 100 at first of competition. 50 and Medley relay finals are in the same session.
Should be 4×100 relay for olympic silver