12 August,2016 08:34 AM IST | | AFP
Katie Ledecky swam a sensational anchor leg to claim her third gold medal of the Rio Olympics as the United States won the women's 4x200m freestyle relay on Wednesday
Katie Ledecky
Rio de Janeiro: Katie Ledecky swam a sensational anchor leg to claim her third gold medal of the Rio Olympics as the United States won the women's 4x200m freestyle relay on Wednesday.
US swimmer Katie Ledecky
Ledecky overhauled Australia's Tamsin Cook to take her team home in 7min 43.03sec, beating the Aussies into second place with Canada third. "I was prepared for any circumstance, whether we were ahead or behind," Ledecky said.
Leah Neale, Emma McKeon, Bronte Barratt and Cook touched in 7:44.87, while Canada's Katerine Savard, Taylor Ruck, Brittany MacLean and Penny Oleksiak clocked 7:45.39.
Ledecky added the relay gold to her individual triumphs in the 200m and 400m free. She also anchored the US 4x100m free relay team to silver behind Australia. Still to come for the 19-year-old is the defence of the 800m freestyle London olympics gold.
More glory?
A victory for the world record-holder would make her the first Olympian since Debbie Meyers in 1968 to win the 200m, 400m and 800m free at the same Games.
In a nip and tuck battle, China, Australia and the United States traded the lead throughout. Schmitt got the Americans off to an early lead before Barratt pulled the Aussies ahead with one leg remaining - but Cook couldn't hold off Ledecky.
The United States have now won gold in four of the five Olympics in which the event has been on the schedule.
