Katie Ledecky wins again: fourth gold at the Olympics
5 august 2024 в 20:50
Katie Ledecky did it again.
The American record holder won gold in the women’s 800-meter freestyle swim — her fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in this sport — on Saturday evening. This is the first time a woman has won four gold medals in the same sport, and Ledecky’s total number of Olympic gold medals is nine, tying her with Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals among women. She also became the fifth most decorated Olympic athlete in history with 14 medals.
But the record she broke twelve years ago holds special significance for Ledecky throughout her career. On August 3, 2012, she won her first Olympic gold medal at the age of 15.
«I didn’t want August 3 to become a day I didn’t like in the future», - Ledecky said with a smile. When asked how she knew it was the anniversary of the gold medal that changed her life, she said that date is imprinted in her memory. «It's almost like your birthday».
«I definitely couldn’t have imagined in 2012 coming back to the Olympics time and time again and doing my job».
Even under pressure, mentioning that the day «will be really tough», - 27-year-old Ledecky still managed to swim faster than her winning time in Tokyo, finishing in 8 minutes 11.04 seconds. Australian Ariarne Titmus, who beat Ledecky in the 400-meter swim, took second place with a time of 8:12.29. American Paige Madden won the bronze with a time of 8:13.00.
Michael Phelps was the only swimmer to win the same event at four consecutive Olympics, winning gold in the 200-meter individual medley at the Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
«Considering that Michael is the only one who has ever done it, I think it just shows how difficult it is to do, especially in the 800-meter swim», - Ledecky said. «It's just a lot of miles year after year, trying to put in the work for it to happen».
Titmus added some perspective to Ledecky’s consistency over the past twelve years, noting where she was when the American won her first gold medal in London.
«I was in sixth grade», - Titmus said. «It shows how outstanding she is».
«To think that eight years later I challenged her in her fourth consecutive 800 meters, it’s pretty cool», - Titmus said. «So I’m very proud of myself and feel extremely honored and privileged to be her competitor, and I hope I made her a better athlete. She certainly made me who I am. It was such an honor to compete alongside her»
The American record holder won gold in the women’s 800-meter freestyle swim — her fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in this sport — on Saturday evening. This is the first time a woman has won four gold medals in the same sport, and Ledecky’s total number of Olympic gold medals is nine, tying her with Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals among women. She also became the fifth most decorated Olympic athlete in history with 14 medals.
But the record she broke twelve years ago holds special significance for Ledecky throughout her career. On August 3, 2012, she won her first Olympic gold medal at the age of 15.
«I didn’t want August 3 to become a day I didn’t like in the future», - Ledecky said with a smile. When asked how she knew it was the anniversary of the gold medal that changed her life, she said that date is imprinted in her memory. «It's almost like your birthday».
«I definitely couldn’t have imagined in 2012 coming back to the Olympics time and time again and doing my job».
Even under pressure, mentioning that the day «will be really tough», - 27-year-old Ledecky still managed to swim faster than her winning time in Tokyo, finishing in 8 minutes 11.04 seconds. Australian Ariarne Titmus, who beat Ledecky in the 400-meter swim, took second place with a time of 8:12.29. American Paige Madden won the bronze with a time of 8:13.00.
Michael Phelps was the only swimmer to win the same event at four consecutive Olympics, winning gold in the 200-meter individual medley at the Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
«Considering that Michael is the only one who has ever done it, I think it just shows how difficult it is to do, especially in the 800-meter swim», - Ledecky said. «It's just a lot of miles year after year, trying to put in the work for it to happen».
Titmus added some perspective to Ledecky’s consistency over the past twelve years, noting where she was when the American won her first gold medal in London.
«I was in sixth grade», - Titmus said. «It shows how outstanding she is».
«To think that eight years later I challenged her in her fourth consecutive 800 meters, it’s pretty cool», - Titmus said. «So I’m very proud of myself and feel extremely honored and privileged to be her competitor, and I hope I made her a better athlete. She certainly made me who I am. It was such an honor to compete alongside her»
© Puhova Marina
