Sunday night, local Olympic hero Katie Ledecky wrote another chapter in her legendary swimming career. Ledecky won her second medal of the Rio Olympics, a gold, after beating her own world record in the 400 Freestyle.
“To see the 56 up there feels really good,” Ledecky said to the New York Times, referring to her time, 3 minutes 56.46 seconds. Ledecky’s previous record was 3:58.37.
It was never in doubt.
Imagine being so good you celebrate while others are finishing. Ledecky and Bolt. (Via @WorldofIsaac) pic.twitter.com/fFrIFp6sC9
— Faizal Khamisa (@FaizalKhamisa) August 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/darth/status/762475966434189314
The Bethesda native also anchored the U.S. 4×100-meter freestyle relay on Saturday that earned a silver medal and set an American record. Ledecky will also swim in the 200 meter freestyle Monday and the 800 meter freestyle Thursday.
The best part is, Ledecky is one of us. This photo of Katie received a massive amount of attention on Twitter after her gold-medal victory.
Who is the GOAT in this picture? The little kid just broke her own world record in the 400. pic.twitter.com/gyJBcRxzc7
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 8, 2016
Katie is the niece of former Capitals owner (and current Islanders owner) Jon Ledecky. In 1999, when Ledecky was two-years-old, her uncle Jon partnered with Ted Leonsis to purchase a stake of the Capitals and Wizards. The night Michael Jordan was announced as a co-owner of the Wizards, Katie was photographed sitting in the owner’s box with the basketball legend scribbling in a coloring book.
Ledecky has gone to hundreds of Capitals games in her life and celebrated her 16th birthday at Verizon Center. Amazing, right?
So far, Marylanders have contributed to four gold and silver medals at the Rio Olympics: Phelps in the 4×100 relay (gold), Katie Ledecky in the 400 free (gold) and 4×100 relay (silver), and Chase Kalisz in the 400 meter IM (silver). The United States has 12 medals total through two days of Olympic competition.
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/762508801459093505
Headline photo: Doug Mills
