Katie Ledecky has done it again.
She led the U.S. to another gold medal -- her third of the Rio Olympics -- as the anchor of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay on Wednesday.
Ledecky, along with, Allison Schmitt, Leah Smith and Maya DiRado finished in 7:43.03 ahead of Australia, who took silver. Canada won bronze.
Missy Franklin, who swam in the preliminary heats of the event, did not swim in the final. After failing to qualify for the 200-meter freestyle final on Monday, Franklin earned her first gold medal of these Games in the relay despite not swimming in the final. She was also a member of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay team that won gold in London in 2012. Melanie Margalis and Cierra Runge, who also swam in the preliminary heats, also medaled.
Ledecky and Franklin each have one more opportunity to medal, with Ledecky competing in the 800-meter freestyle and Franklin swimming in the 200-meter backstroke heats on Thursday. Finals for each event are on Friday.
..... - Newsday