Slideshow Katie Ledecky won the 800 freestyle on Saturday. Photo by Keith Peters. Simone Manuel won the 100 free in an American record and came back to help the mixed 400 free relay team win gold in world record time. Photo by Keith Peters. Katie Ledecky overtook the competition on the final leg to win the 800 free and earn her 15th World Championship gold medal. Photo by Keith Peters. Previous Next

Stanford’s Katie Ledecky, a world record holder, made it to the top of the podium, winning the women’s 800 freestyle on Saturday at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

Former Stanford star and Olympic gold medalist Simone Manuel stood atop the podium twice in as many days, winning the 100 free in an American record 52.04 and then swimming anchor for the USA mixed 400 free relay that set a World record 3:19.40 on Saturday.

“Our relays haven’t been doing as well as we would have liked them to do, so to get a gold medal tonight and finish off well is something we’re really proud of,” Manuel told USA Swimming.

Cardinal sophomore Taylor Ruck also produced an impressive couple of days competing for Canada, finishing fifth in the 200 back in 2:07.50 and helping the Canadians place fourth in the mixed relay in a time of 3:22.54.

Ruck, who is using her redshirt season at Stanford to concentrate on the Olympics, swam fifth in Friday’s 100 free (53.03) and was seventh in the semifinals of the 200 back (2:08.42).