Swimmer Katie Ledecky sets world record to win gold in 400m freestyle

American swimmer Katie Ledecky on 7 August 2016 set a new world record to fetch gold in the women's 400 metres freestyle at the Rio Olympics.

Ledecky clocked 3 minutes 56.46 seconds to beat Britain's Jazmin Carlin who clocked 4 minutes 01.23 seconds at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Rio de Janeiro. America's Leah Smith clocked 4 minutes 01.92 seconds to grab the bronze.

With this win, Ledecky broke her previous record she set in 2014 by almost two seconds.

About Katie Ledecky

• Born on 17 March 1997, Katie Ledecky is an American competition swimmer.

• She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and nine-time world champion.

• She is the current world-record holder in the 400-meter, 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle (long course).

• She also holds the fastest times in the 500-yard, 1000-yard, and 1650-yard freestyle events.

• She made her international debut at the 2012 Summer Olympics as a 15-year-old in which she won gold in the 800-meter freestyle in the second fastest performance ever.

• During her career, she has broken twelve world records.

• She earned her Swimming World's World Swimmer of the Year and the American Swimmer of the Year awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

• She won the FINA Swimmer of the Year Award in 2013.

• Her seven individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships is a record in women's swimming.

• In 2016, she was the youngest person on Time magazine's Time 100 list.

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