Katie Ledecky adds her third gold to the collection of medals she is obtaining in this Kazan World Championships. The final of the 200 free, the most difficult event for the American, resulted in an almost undeniable victory (1:55.16), if it weren't for the resistance of the tireless Italian Federica Pellegrini (1:55.32), who pushed her in the final meters. The American still has two more events in which she is also a favorite (800 free and 4x200 free).
This gold is also historic because no swimmer has ever been able to win all freestyle events in the same championships (except the 50 and 100, intended for pure sprinters). Ledecky already has the 200, 400, and 1,500, and obviously should have no trouble winning the 800 as well. In addition, she already has two world records in the long event.
Ledecky started falling behind, knowing that neither the start nor the speed are her strong points. She completed the first 50 in third place among the finalists, with a time of 27.16. After the turn, the central lanes began to take the lead and Ledecky placed fourth (54.27). But, from that moment on, it was her race. She started increasing her leg frequency, accelerating, and the rest of the competitors, except Pellegrini, were swimming slower than the first two.
While Ledecky swam the last 100 meters in 58.89, the rest of the swimmers (except the Italian) surpassed 59.30 seconds. This made her move into second place before the final hundred meters and finish strong in the event, touching the wall and lowering yesterday's time by a second and a half. The silver went to Pellegrini, who continues to be a contender in the freestyle discipline after a decade in the elite.
The bronze went to Ledecky's compatriot, Missy Franklin, who hugged the 18-year-old in a tender image. Franklin has had a year of injuries in one shoulder that has prevented her from preparing thoroughly for this competition, although she still has two medals (1:55.49).