Katie Ledecky of Bethesda collected her third gold medal in as many events at the world championships in Barcelona, swimming the leadoff leg Thursday as the U.S. won the 4x200 freestyle relay.
Ledecky completed her 200 meters in 1:56.32, leaving the Americans in the lead, but Missy Franklin had to overtake Australia’s Alicia Coutts with a 1:54.27 final leg to give the U.S. the gold.
Ledecky qualified at the U.S. championships to swim the 200 free at worlds, but dropped the event so she could concentrate on longer-distance races. Franklin won the gold earlier this week — she has four overall — while Ledecky already has golds in the 400 and 1,500 free.
She’ll attempt to close out a perfect meet Saturday night in the 800 free, the event in which she won gold at the London Olympics last summer as a 15-year-old.
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