4 Katie Ledecky was one of the biggest stars at the 2016 Olympics
5 STAR OF THE POOL Katie Ledecky got off to a hot start at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro Brazil The 19 year old swimmer had raced in four events She won three of them In the other event the 4x100 meter freestyle relay she finished second It was the type of start many experts had predicted for Ledecky But everyone really wanted to see how she finished She closed out the Olympics with her signature event the 800 meter freestyle
Ledecky races away from the field in the 800 meter freestyle edo 6 FAST FACT Ledecky holds the world record in the 1,500 freestyle as well But only men compete in that long distance race at the Olympics
7 Ledecky dove in She led by nearly two seconds after one lap Seven laps remained With each lap Ledecky pulled farther and farther away from the field Before long she was swimming by herself Ledecky touched the wall in 8 04 79 That smashed her own world record The next fastest swimmer was more than 11 seconds behind With that performance Ledecky cemented her place as one of the stars of the Olympics And still only a teenager she might not be done yet Ledecky celebrates her Olympic gold medal in the 800 freestyle
