Katie Ledecky, a 19-year-old swimming superstar entered the current Olympics as world-record holder in the 400, 800 and 1,500 meter freestyles.
The unassuming teenager from suburban Washington gave the United States its first swimming gold medal of the Rio Olympics on Sunday night, crushing her own world record in the women’s 400-meter freestyle.
Ledecky kicked off the first wall with a lead of nearly a body length and steadily pulled away from the overmatched field — as well as the world-record line superimposed on the video screen.
Her arms churning effortlessly through the water, Ledecky touched nearly 5 seconds ahead of her closest pursuer and quickly whipped around to look at the scoreboard.
When Ledecky saw the time — 3 minutes, 56.46 seconds — she let out an uncharacteristic scream and pumped her right fist. The 19-year-old crushed the mark of 3:58.37 that she set nearly two years ago on the Gold Coast of Australia, and had been chasing ever since.
It is Ledecky’s first gold of these games and she will have three more chances later on this week in the 200-meter freestyle, 800-meter freestyle and 4×200-meter freestyle relay.
The most interesting thing in the competition was her celebration. Ledecky was captured shouting in Joy seconds event before the second placed person touched the finish line.
Already, six world records have been set in Rio.