Katie Ledecky Once Again Makes History

Stanford's Katie Ledecky and Maya DiRado were on the podium for the second night in a row, this time wearing gold medals after Team USA won the 800 meter relay.

This is Katie Ledecky's fourth medal of the Olympics games, which ties a Stanford record for most medals in a single Olympics. Previously, four other Stanford athletes have accomplished this feat: Jenny Thompson (2000), Summer Sanders (1992), Sharon Stouder Clark (1964) and Chris von Saltza Olmstead (1960). And with Katie Ledecky a heavy favorite in the 800m, it's almost certain that she will break the record and become the most decorated Stanford athlete in a single Olympics.

Katie Ledecky also single-handedly delivered Team USA the gold in tonight's 800m relay. The first three swimmers finished each of their legs in second place, and Katie Ledecky entered the pool 0.89 seconds behind Team Australia. Once again proving her dominance, Ledecky erased that 0.89 deficit and finished the race nearly two seconds ahead of second-place Australia. With the win, Team USA has won gold for five of the six Olympics since the 800 meter relay was added to the Olympics (the only exception in 2008 when Team USA got a bronze).

This was also Maya DiRado's third medal of the Olympic games, and she now has a complete set (one gold, one silver, one bronze).

Stanford now has gold medals in three events, tying it with Italy and Great Britain for the eighth-best "country" in the world. The only countries ahead of Stanford are: the US (11), China (10), Japan, (6), Australia (5), Hungary (5), Russia (4), and South Korea (4). Stanford is also tied for ninth place in total medals (7).