Katie Ledecky Swims a Relaxed Olympic Record Time in 800 Freestyle Prelims

by Cathleen Pruden

11 August 2016, 10:19am

Katie Ledecky held back her legs this morning in prelims of the 800 freestyle. While she never neared her own world record of 8:06.68, Ledecky did take down the Olympic record with her final time of 8:12.86. The Olympic record stood at 8:14.10, postedby Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington in 2008. At the time it was a world record. Ledecky then upset Adlington at home in 2012, but did not take the mark. With this morning’s easy race, Ledecky is setting herself up to be the third American woman to repeat gold in the event.

Boglarka Kapas of Hungary recorded the second fastest time in prelims with her 8:19.43. That swim came as a result of a close race with Jazz Carlin of Great Britain, the silver medalist in the 400 freestyle. Carlin will take the third seed in 8:19.67.

American Leah Smith recovered from a late night on the gold medal-winning 800 freestyle relay to post the fourth best time of the morning in 8:21.43. Smith actually finished fourth in her heat, but the final heat of the event was so quick that she had plenty of room to spare to make it into the final.

Lotte Friis of Denmark jumped out to an early lead in the third heat and held on to win that heat in 8:22.54. On her heels was Jessica Ashwood of Australia in 8:22.57.

Germany’s Sarah Kohler takes the seventh spot in 8:24.65.

Mireia Belmonte Garcia took out the second heat this morning and swam on her own. The Spaniard who already has two Olympic medals from this Games will be the eighth seed for finals with an 8:25.55.

New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle posted an 8:25.84 and will not make the final, finishing ninth.

Full prelims results can be found here.

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YY

7 years ago

Jazz Carlin is the silver medallist in 400 freestyle.

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