Katie Ledecky triumphs again at US Olympic trials
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Katie Ledecky after the 200m freestyle final at the US Olympic trials in Indianapolis on June 17.
PHOTO: AFP
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INDIANAPOLIS – Seven-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky stormed to victory in the 200m freestyle final at the US Olympic trials in Indianapolis on June 17, while Katie Grimes outdueled Emma Weyant to win a thrilling 400m individual medley.
Ledecky had already qualified for the Paris Games in the 400m freestyle at the trials, which are being held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts.
She came home in 1:55.22 ahead of Claire Weinstein, Paige Madden and Erin Gemmell, who will join the 27-year-old on the relay team.
“We’re going to get together over the next couple weeks and put together a great showing,” said Ledecky.
“Hopefully there are a lot of young girls out there who want to be on this relay one day.”
In the women’s 400m IM, Grimes got off to a hot start before reigning Olympic silver medallist Weyant made her move as the thousands of swimming fans on hand roared.
But Grimes, 18, managed to fend off Weyant and Lilla Bognar to touch the wall first with a time of 4:35.00.
“I knew that my backstroke was fine and when I turned at the wall for the breaststroke I just said, ‘Don’t look back, don’t look to the side’,” she said.
“I knew that as long as I touched the wall at the same time as Emma I would be able to stick in there with her, so I was just trying to finish.”
Grimes, who was the youngest member of the US team at the Tokyo Games, has already qualified for the Paris Olympics in open water swimming and now also has a place in the pool.
Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ryan Murphy punched his ticket to his third Games with victory in the men's 100m backstroke where he edged Hunter Armstrong, who is also likely to qualify.
Murphy won the final with a time of 52.22, half a second faster than world champion Armstrong, and the backstroke specialist will look to improve on his bronze medal performance in Tokyo when he arrives in Paris.
Indiana native Lilly King won the women’s 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:05.43, outpacing second-place finisher Emma Weber with Tokyo gold medallist Lydia Jacoby a disappointing third.
While soaking in the adoration of the crowd, King said her state has a huge fanbase for the sport.
“We love swimming here – we’re a swimming state,” said the two-time Olympic gold medallist, who will be appearing in her third, and what she says final, Games.
“We’re really proud of that and I’m glad I get to represent us.” REUTERS
