The United States' Katie Ledecky competes in a women's 800-meter freestyle heat during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Credit: AP / Matt Slocum
Katie Ledecky set an Olympic record in the 800-meter freestyle on Thursday.
And she still has one more chance to beat her own world record.
Ledecky cruised to a win in the 800 free prelims in 8 minutes, 12.86 seconds at the Rio Olympics. She finished more than six seconds aead of second-place finisher Boglarka Kapas of Hungary (8:19.43).
Ledecky owns the 12 fastest times ever in the 800 free. She burst onto the world scene when she won the event at the 2012 London Olympics in 8:13.86. She has since broken the world record with an 8:06.68 in Jaunary 2016.
Leah Smith, Ledecky’s Team USA teammate, also qualified with an 8:21.43.
The finals are Friday at 9:20 p.m. ET.
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