Rio 2016: Katie Ledecky wins gold in Women’s 200m Freestyle

Katie Ledecky remained perfect in international competition, winning a gold medal in the Women’s 200m Freestyle

The book of world records in regards to swimming is basically just a log book for the best times of USA Swimming’s Katie Ledecky, especially in the distance events. The 19-year-old burst onto the scene four years ago when she was just 15 years old at London 2012 and hasn’t looked back since (except at the competition, of course). However, she faced arguably her biggest test at Rio 2016 on Tuesday night during the Day 4 action in the Women’s 200m Freestyle finals.

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Coming into the finals of the event Ledecky had been perfect in all previous finals in all competitions with 13 gold medals won from the 13 finals that she’d competed in. With Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden and many others competing in the Women’s 200m Freestyle finals, though, that perfect record was certainly in jeopardy on Tuesday.

Ledecky found herself in only fifth place after the first turn, but then started to make her move at the halfway mark as she vaulted up to second place and began flirting with a world record. By the third turn, it was indeed down to her and Sjostrom in a race to the finish.

Just when it looked like the sprint-specialist from Sweden might ruin the perfect record of Katie Ledecky, though, the American began turning it on in the most major way possible and ultimately touched the wall first to earn her second gold medal at Rio 2016.

She’s the most dominant woman in the pool right now and her star is only going to get brighter from here.