Olympics Rio 2016: Relay hands Katie Ledecky third gold of Rio Games

ByReuters

Updated 11/08/2016 at 19:13 GMT

Freestyle queen Katie Ledecky made sure of her third swimming gold medal of the Rio Olympics, and fourth of her career, after anchoring the U.S. women to victory in the 4x200 metres relay on Wednesday.

Allison Schmitt, USA's Madeline "Maya" Dirado,USA's Katie Ledecky and USA's Leah Smith celebrate after they won the Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Jane

Image credit: AFP

Australia, who led until Ledecky hit the water, took silver and Canada the bronze.

The US were the defending champions but only Allison Schmitt, who swam the leadoff leg in Rio, was in the race lineup from that London 2012 golden quartet that also beat Australia into second place.

Leah Smith and Maya DiRado swam second and third respectively before Ledecky, who won the 400 freestyle on Sunday and 200 free on Tuesday, brought home the gold with a typically powerful swim from behind.

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China led at the start before Australia, with Emma McKeon swimming the second leg, handed over in the lead to Bronte Barratt.

With DiRado closing in on Barratt but still behind, Ledecky had work to do and she went about it with a vengeance to take the lead with just over 100m to go and then powering home in seven minutes, 43.03 seconds.

Tamsin Cook touched out for Australia in 7:44.57 and Canada's anchor Penny Oleksiak finished close behind in 7:45.39 with China fourth