Olympics

Ledecky Digs Deep, Takes 2nd Rio Gold in Nail-Biter

American swimmer Katie Ledecky stayed golden at the Rio Olympics Tuesday, winning the 200-meter freestyle. 

Her 1:53.73 time edged out Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom, winner of the 100-meter butterfly in Rio, by about four-tenths of a second. 

"That's the closest I've gotten to having to throw up in the middle of a race," Ledecky said after the race, saying she sensed Sjostrom close on her tail and had to "dig deep" to win.

Sjostrom moved up on Ledecky's left in the final 25 meters, and appeared close to taking the lead, but Ledecky surged ahead to win.

Ledecky had already picked up a gold in the 400-meter free in world record time Monday night. She's racing in three more events, and she's the favorite in all three.

Ledecky is aiming to match Debbie Meyer's gold medals in the 200, 400 and 800-meter freestyle at one Olympics, which the American accomplished in the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

Emma McKeon of Australia took the bronze. World record holder Federica Pellegrini came in fourth.

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