Swimming: Katie Ledecky wins fourth straight gold medal in women’s 800m free
This is Katie Ledecky‘s event.
The 800m freestyle. But through 300m, she and Ariarne Titmus (AUS) are both going head-to-head here. And both are under the world record split.
As a reminder, Ledecky was actually beaten in an 800m by Summer McIntosh in February, but McIntosh opted not to swim this race in Paris.
Slipping back behind the world record pace now and Ledecky has to up her pace if she wants to lose Titmus.
Italy’s Simona Quadarella has a slight lead for bronze, but all the attention is at the front.
Ledecky leads by half a second at 550m. Is this when the U.S. star starts to turn it on?
Yes, just ever so slightly. It’s up to 0.82 seconds with four lengths of this pool left to swim. Paige Madden (USA) has overtaken Quadarella and will start to threaten Titmus shortly!
Ledecky leads by about a body length and a bit at 700m. Titmus leads Madden but by only 0.38 seconds. This is close!
Katie Ledecky makes the final turn for home in the lead! Titmus is trying hard to close in but Ledecky will win gold in 8:11.04!
It’s her fourth straight gold medal in this event.
Ariarne Titmus wins silver in 8:12.29, a new Oceanian record, and Ledecky and Titmus raise each other’s hand in the air.
Paige Madden takes bronze.
It is Ledecky’s ninth Olympic title, tying Larisa Latynina for most Olympic gold medals by any female athlete in any sport.
