Rio: Katie Ledecky powers US to 4x200m freestyle gold

Katie Ledecky powered the US to victory with a scintillating last leg in the women’s 4x200m freestyle final at the Rio Olympics here.

The US team of Allison Schmitt, Leah Smith, Maya Dirado and Ledecky finished in 7 minutes 43.03 seconds at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on Wednesday evening, reports Xinhua.

Australia’s Leah Neale, Emma McKeon, Bronte Barratt and Tamsin Cook took the silver, 1.84 seconds behind.

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Canada’s Katerine Savard, Taylor Ruck, Brittany Maclean and Penny Oleksiak grabbed the bronze, 2.36 seconds further back.

Ledecky began half a body length behind Australia’s Cook but reeled in her rival after the first 50m and never looked back.R=

It was the 19-year-old’s third gold medal of the Rio Games. She also won the 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle finals in addition to the silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle.

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