There was little doubt Katie Ledecky would take residence gold within the 1500 freestyle. The one query was her margin of victory.
Ledecky set an Olympic report with a successful time of 15:30.02 and received her eighth profession Olympic gold medal. That ties her with American swimmer Jenny Thompson for probably the most all-time, and with Individuals Natalie Coughlin and Dara Torres and Canadian Emma McKeon for many complete medals with 12.
She’d have extra if the Olympics had included the 1500 earlier than the Tokyo Video games, the place Ledecky additionally received gold. The 27-year-old now has the 20 quickest 1500 instances in historical past and hasn’t misplaced a 1500 race since she was 13 years previous. In Wednesday’s last, she completed greater than 10 seconds forward of silver medalist Anastasiya Kirpichnikova.
Ledecky is favored to win a ninth gold medal within the 800 freestyle, an occasion she’s received in three straight Olympics, beginning in 2012 in London. She’ll even be within the 4×200 free relay, the place McKeon and the Australian workforce are heavy favorites, however the USA has a superb opportunity at a medal. Ledecky received gold in that occasion in 2016 and a silver on the Tokyo Video games.
By the point her profession ends, Ledecky could also be as far forward within the profession medal depend than she was within the 1500 last.