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Katie Ledecky swims into history with 800 freestyle victory at the Paris Olympics
Ledecky now has the second-most gold medal wins by any athlete ever at the Olympics.
NANTERRE, France (AP) — Katie Ledecky capped another stellar Olympics by becoming only the second swimmer to win an event at four straight Summer Games, holding off Ariarne Titmus to win the 800-meter freestyle Saturday night.
It was Ledecky’s second gold medal in Paris and ninth of her remarkable career, which marked another milestone. She became only the sixth Olympian to reach that figure, joining swimmer Mark Spitz, track star Carl Lewis, Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina and Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi in a tie for second place.
Ledecky won in 8:11.04 seconds to edge Australia’s Ariarne Titmus in 8:12.29. The 27-year-old hugged U.S. teammate Paige Madden afterward on the pool deck. Madden took home the bronze medal.
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The only athlete to win more golds: swimmer Michael Phelps with 23. She also joins Phelps as the only swimmers to win the same event at four straight Summer Games.
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