By Steve Keating
PARIS (Reuters) -Already rated certainly one of swimming’s all-time greats coming into the Paris Olympics, Katie Ledecky made it official on Saturday by storming to victory in her signature occasion, the 800 metres freestyle to finish her work within the French capital in grand model.
French torpedo Leon Marchand stands out as the prince of Paris, electrifying the house nation with 4 spectacular gold medals.
However it’s Ledecky leaving Paris sharing the throne of best feminine Olympian with Larisa Latynina after profitable a ninth gold medal to equal the Russian gymnast’s file.
“The week was kind of, you know, had its ups and downs like any other meet,” mentioned Ledecky, whose Paris haul additionally included gold within the 1,500, silver within the 4×200 freestyle relay and bronze within the 400m free.
“I knew I just had to focus on the races, don’t focus on times, just focus on getting the job done, getting to hear the national anthem at the end of the races as many times as I could.”
In sharp distinction to Ledecky’s runaway win within the 1,500m the 800m freestyle was a thriller from begin to end, with Ariarne Titmus matching her stroke-for-stroke for nearly all the distance.
However with the American setting a relentless, grinding tempo her nice Australian rival would by no means get her nostril in entrance settling for silver with Ledecky attending to the wall first in a time of 8 minutes, 11.04 seconds.
Paige Madden took bronze for america.
“I knew it was going to be a tough race,” mentioned Ledecky. “I felt confident but I knew it was going to be tough no matter what all the way to the finish.
“I’ve good early pace, and I can come residence arduous, and I can belief my endurance.
“I knew I just needed to stay calm through that and really just try to inch my way forward each lap, and I think I did a pretty good job of that.”
It marked the fourth consecutive Video games Ledecky has gained the 800m free, and she or he joins compatriot Michael Phelps as the one swimmers to win gold in 4 totally different Olympics.
“Given that Michael’s the only one that’s ever done that, I think that just shows how difficult that is,” mentioned Ledecky. “Especially in the 800. It’s just a lot of miles.”
The 800m was the ultimate occasion on Ledecky’s Paris card and she or he returns residence having added two golds, a silver and a bronze, bringing her Olympic stockpile to 14 medals in all – with extra doable.
The 27-year-old admitted {that a} residence Olympics in Los Angeles in 4 years time intrigues her however she was not able to decide to being there.
“I’d love to,” smiled Ledecky. “We’ll see, I mean, it’s not easy.
“Once more, I will take it yr by yr, and we’ll see, give it all the things I’ve received for so long as I’ve left in me.”
