Catholic Ledecky Dominates As Never

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From CNN:

U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky celebrates after setting a new world record in the 800-meter freestyle on Friday, August 12. It was her fourth gold medal in Rio and the fifth of her Olympic career. She also won the 800 free in London four years ago.

(CNN) As much as the swimming portion of the Olympics has been about saying goodbye to the legendary Michael Phelps, it has also been about introducing Katie Ledecky to non-swimming fans.

The 19-year-old American is building a legend of her own, capping her Rio Olympics with a stunning win in the women’s 800-meter freestyle Friday night. Stunning not for the fact that she won, but in how she did it.  Ledecky broke her own world record with a time of 8:04.79 and finished a staggering 11 seconds ahead of second place finisher, Jazmin Carlin from Great Britain.

[For Full Story]

[See also diocesan interview with her:]

WASHINGTON.  Four years ago, at age 15, swimmer Katie Ledecky won Olympic gold in the women’s 800-meter freestyle.

Since then Ledecky, who attended Catholic schools in Bethesda, Md., has become the world record holder in the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyles, and the American record holder in the 500-, 1000- and 1650-yard freestyles. In the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she will compete in the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle.

Yet before every race, she’ll offer a prayer, she told the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the archdiocese of Washington.

“I do say a prayer — or two — before any race. The Hail Mary is a beautiful prayer and I find that it calms me,” she told the Catholic Standard in an email interview.

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Pray always for purity and love

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