Watching Katie swam her 4th 800 meter to gold yesterday was inspiring: she led the entire way! I did 1,040 in 21 minutes (36’28” per mile): a pretty good record for me. Don’t know why the watch doesn’t show seconds any more, which is really annoying.
1. Katie Ledecky, United States, 8:11.04
2. Ariarne Titmus, Australia, 8:12.29
3. Paige Madden (1998-), US, 8:13.00
Katie’s four 800m results from 4 Olympics:
- 15 2012 @ London, 8:14.63; García 8:18.76
- 19 2016 @ Rio 8:04.79; Jazmin Carlin 8:16.17
- 24 2021 @ Tokyo, 8:12.79; Titmus 8:13.83
- 27 2024 @ Paris, 8:11.04; Titmus 8:12.29
The 2012 London game, Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington, was the fave but came in 3rd, 8:20.32. Mireia Belmonte García was the second at 8:18.76
The swimming part of 2024 Paris Olympics is over today, with Bobby Finke (1999-) clinched 1,500 meter event, setting a world record.
Here is USA swimming gold, silver and bronze medals summary / count since 1960:
- 2024: 8, 13, 7 = 28
- 2020: 11, 10, 9 = 30
- 2016: 16, 8, 9 = 33
- 2012: 16, 9, 6 = 31
- 2008: 12, 9, 10 = 31
- 2004: 12, 9, 7 = 28
- 2000: 14, 8, 11 = 33
- 1996: 13, 11, 2 = 26
- 1992: 11, 9, 7 = 27
- 1988: 8, 6, 4 = 18 #2. (E Germany 11, 8, 9 = 28)
- 1984: 21, 13, 0 = 34
- 1980: US 66 nations boycotted (E Germany 12, 10, 8 = 30)
- 1976: 13, 14, 7 = 34
- 1972: 17, 14, 12 = 43
- 1968: 21, 15, 16 = 52
- 1964: 13, 8, 8 = 29
- 1960: 9, 3, 3 = 15
About East German drug scandal:
Case Study From 1968 to the late 1980s, the GDR doped some 9,000 athletes and gained many successes in international athletic competitions, particularly the Olympics. The GDR women’s swim team in the 1968 Olympics enjoyed the most amazing (and suspicious) success.
Not sure it’s a typo, GDR’s 1968 Olympics came in third with 2, 3, 1 that totally 6, behind second place Australia’s (3, 2, 3) 8, while US had (21, 15, 16) 52.
GDR did well in 1980 when US and 66 other nations didn’t participate; and 1988, beating US to the first place finish.
