U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky finished sweeping the four swimming World Championships freestyle races she entered Saturday with a world record in the 800. It was her third world-record swim in the Russia meet, during which the 18-year-old also won the 200-, 400-, and 1,500-meter freestyle races.
"I've seen Michael [Phelps] win eight medals in Beijing; that was hard-fought," coach Frank Busch said. "I’m sure he'd be the first one to say Katie's a freak. She's a freak of nature in what she's done, how she's been able to come off an event like the 1,500 and try to figure out how to finish off an event like the 200."
Ledecky reportedly hasn't ruled out adding the 100-meter freestyle to her repertoire, though it isn't a priority.
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Her gold medal haul marks the first time a swimmer has swept those four events in a major international competition, The New York Times reports.
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