Ledecky, DiRado, and Ervin Win Gold in Rio as Michael Phelps Misses Shot at 5th Gold
In her race that followed Phelps’, Katie Ledecky did exactly what the swimming world has come to expect her to do, winning the women’s 800-meter freestyle by several body lengths. She also set a new world record of 8:04.79 in the event.
By midway through the race, Ledecky was well ahead of the world-record pace. The only question was how far ahead of her own mark she would finish — and the answer was by nearly two seconds. She broke the world record of 8:06.68 that she set in January, and also shattered her own Olympic record of 8:12.86, a time she clocked in a qualifying heat yesterday.
Ledecky is now finished with her events in Rio. Taking silver behind her in the 800m free was Canada’s Jazz Carlin; the bronze went to Boglarka Kapas of Hungary.
Both Ledecky’s and Phelps’ races came after a contest that saw the continuing breakthrough of American Maya DiRado, who won gold in the women’s 200-meter backstroke at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Barra’s Olympic Park.
DiRado beat out another star of these games — Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu — at the wall after taking the lead in the closing lengths. DiRado’s time of 2:05.99 beat Hosszu by just 0.06 seconds. Canada’s Hilary Caldwell won the bronze medal.