Katie Ledecky has never felt such pain. She actually felt like she might throw up in the pool, but that was not enough to slow the gritty teenager.
Ledecky took the most challenging step toward a feat that has only been done one other time, holding off Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom to win the 200m freestyle on Tuesday to give the US star her second gold of the Olympics.
Debbie Meyer is the only female swimmer to capture the three longest freestyle events at a single Olympics, winning the 200m, 400m and 800m at the 1968 Mexico City Games. Now that the 200m is out of the way, Ledecky is essentially a lock to match Meyer.
Photo: EPA
The 19-year-old from suburban Washington crushed the world record in the 400m and will be an overwhelming favorite in the 800m tomorrow, where she is the world-record holder and far faster than anyone else in the world.
The 200m was the only one that was really in doubt.
“That was a really tough race and it hurt really badly,” Ledecky said. “I’m pretty sure it’s the closest I’ve come to throwing up in the middle of a race. I’m just so glad I got my hand on the wall first and it was all worth it.”
Fifth at the first flip turn, a bit faster than she usually goes out, Ledecky powered to the front on the third lap and fended off Sjostrom coming to the wall.
Ledecky touched in 1 minute, 53.73 seconds. The silver went to Sjostrom, while Emma McKeon took bronze.
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