Captured by D’Artagnan Dias.
Produced by Coleman Hodges.
Reported by Mitch Bowmile.
WOMEN’S 400M FREESTYLE FINAL
Start List: click here
Top Seed: 3:58.98 – Katie Ledecky – USA
World Record: 3:58.37 (2014) – Katie Ledecky – USA
JR World Record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky – USA
Olympic Record: 3:58.71 (2016) – Katie Ledecky – USA
2012 Olympic Champion: 4:01.45 – Camille Muffat – France
Just like Adam Peaty in the race before, American Katie Ledecky redefined what’s possible in her respective event, taking close to two-seconds off her own world record in the 400m freestyle en route to her first Olympic gold in the event, and first gold of these games.
Ledecky was outstanding, reminiscent of a 2007-2008 Michael Phelps, beating the world record line by over a body length and finishing several body-lengths ahead of the second and so forth swimmers in the world.
At the touch Ledecky was a 3:56.46, breaking her 2014 record of 3:58.37. She won the race by almost five full seconds. Great Britain’s Jazz Carlin claimed the silver with a 4:01.23, winning a close battle with Leah Smith of the United States.
Smith earned the bronze with a 4:01.92.
- Katie Ledecky – USA – 3:56.46
- Jazz Carlin – Britain – 4:01.23
- Leah Smith – USA – 4:01.92
- Boglarka Kapas – Hungary – 4:02.37
- Brittany MacLean – Canada – 4:04.69
- Tamsin Cook – Australia – 4:05.30
- Jessica Ashwood – Australia – 4:05.68
- Coralie Balmy – France – 4:06.98