Katie Ledecky made history as the just second woman to win three individual freestyle events at a single Olympic Games on Friday night when she successfully defended her 2012 gold in the 800m freestyle. She raced to eight minutes, 4.79 seconds to lower the world record for the fifth time.
Ledecky joins American Debbie Meyer in the 1968 Mexico City Games, to win three individual freestyle gold medals in a single Olympics. She also ties distance swimming greats Janet Evans and Brooke Bennett as the only U.S. women to win back-to-back 800m freestyle Olympic golds.
Previously, Ledecky had set the world record four times in less than three years, lowering it from 8:14.10 to 8:06.68. Wednesday in the preliminary heats she posted 8:12.86 and set a new Olympic record.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Thursday night, Ledecky also became the third American woman to win four gold medals at a single Olympics; Ledecky now stands with Missy Franklin (2012; four golds and a bronze) and Amy Van Dyken (1996, four golds). Kristin Otto of East Germany won six gold medals at the 1988 Seoul Games.
READ MORE AT NBCOlympics.com