Phelps eager to get started on 5th Olympics, likely in relay

Ledecky actually started off her sophomore Olympics with the potential to become the first American woman to win five gold medals at the Olympics, as she would compete in three individual freestyle events and two relays. But this is a woman whom the Michael Phelps has described as a “stud,” and, oh yeah, she set 11 world records.

More importantly, it also means the expectations that Ledecky – a distance swimmer, not a sprinter – will do awesome things in this meet appear to be justified.

With such a festival of endeavor on display, there will surely be something to thrill and excite as the Rio Games gets into full swing. It was the third fastest women’s free relay split in USA history, a list topped by Dara Torres’ 52.27 at the 2008 Olympics.

Road to Rio: Swimmer Katie LedeckyHometown favorite Katie Ledecky holds the current world record in the 400-meter freestyle, and she’s going for gold in Rio.

Ledecky said she cried when told she would anchor the relay earlier Saturday.

She went into the Olympics with the world record in 400-meter freestyle, so she’ll have one eye on her opponents in the pool and one on the clock when she dives in for the high-octane event.

In the history of Olympic swimming, the US is the big cheese by a mile, winning 230 golds and 520 total medals before Saturday night, light years ahead of Australia’s 57 gold and 178 total medals.

When Ledecky says something “bodes well for tonight”, the swimming world knows to be on world record alert. Her time was also the best overall, easily getting her into the semifinals. Stanford’s Lia Neal, Allison Schmitt, and Amanda Weir will also receive silvers.

Since the 2012 Olympics, Ledecky has been unbeatable, capturing nine World Championships gold medals and five Pan Pacific Championships gold medals.

“It was a tough double”, she said.

I wish one day when I do something lackadaisical, I almost set a world record.

Ledecky had not swam on a 4×100 relay since graduating from high school in 2015, and this was her first in an worldwide meet.

Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman and the other American gymnasts will be competing on all of the apparatuses, from balance beam to uneven bars, to qualify for the finals in team, all-around and event competition.

The 25 year-old Swindon native placed herself into the chasing four and over the last 100m pushed ahead to beat American Leah Smith, Coralie Balmy of France and Canadian Brittany MacLean.

“I’m just going to get some rest now, and focus on how I’m going to swim it”, Ledecky added.

Chris Walker-Hebborn reached the semi-finals of the 100m backstroke (03:12 BST) as the 10th-fastest qualifier.