Ledecky takes record ninth gold as Summer sparkles

PARIS : Katie Ledecky tore up the record books again at the Paris Games by claiming a ninth career gold medal, while teenager Summer McIntosh put her name among the greats as Canada's first triple champion at a single Olympics.

Caeleb Dressel joined compatriot Ledecky with a ninth gold without diving into the La Defense Arena pool when his United States teammates swept to the mixed medley relay title in world record time.

But home hero Leon Marchand tasted defeat for the first time despite the ear-splitting support of another packed house when France finished fourth in the relay.

With four golds, Marchand has been the meet's pre-eminent champion - but Saturday night belonged to Ledecky as she won an unprecedented fourth 800 metres freestyle title to match former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina's record of nine gold medals for a female Olympian.

Ledecky also joined fellow American great Phelps as the only swimmer to win four or more Olympic golds in the same event.

She won the 800 in 8:11.04, a second clear of Australia's silver medallist Ariarne Titmus in a repeat of their Tokyo 2020 tussle.

Ledecky's teammate Paige Madden took bronze.

Ledecky's victory was exactly 12 years on from her first 800 title at the 2012 London Games at the age of 15.

"I knew that August 3rd is the day I won in 2012, and I didn't want August 3rd to be a day that I didn't move forward, so I kind of felt like I put a lot of pressure on myself," Ledecky told reporters.

"But I'm just really happy that I could get the job done."

At the tender age of 17, McIntosh knows all about getting it done. She became Canada's first triple gold-medallist at the same Games when she won the 200m individual medley(IM), having already won the 400 IM and 200m butterfly.

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