Ledecky makes history, McIntosh shines
Katie Ledecky etched her name further into the swimming history books on Saturday, capturing her ninth Olympic gold medal with a dominant victory in the 800m freestyle. The American superstar equaled the record for most gold medals won by a female athlete in Olympic history.
Ledecky’s victory came as 17-year-old Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh continued her meteoric rise, claiming her third gold medal of the Paris Games with a thrilling win in the 200m individual medley.
Despite a strong challenge from Australian rival Ariarne Titmus, Ledecky proved too strong in the 800m, touching the wall in 8:11.04.
“I knew Ariarne was going to give me everything she had,” said Ledecky. “I felt confident coming into it, but it was gonna be tough no matter what all the way down to the finish.”
McIntosh, meanwhile, showcased her versatility with another impressive performance in the 200m IM, overtaking American Alex Walsh on the final leg to secure gold.
In other events, Hungary’s Kristof Milak claimed his second gold medal of the Games, winning the men’s 100m butterfly. The United States also shattered the world record in the mixed 4x100m medley relay, with Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske combining for a dominant victory.
Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström set a new Olympic record in the semifinals of the women’s 50m freestyle, highlighting the intense competition in the pool.
(Source: AFP)
