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Ledecky celebrates new TYR deal with sizzling 200m free win
LOS ANGELES, June 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Five-time Olympic champion Katie
Ledecky clocked the fastest 200m freestyle time in the world this year on
Friday, hours after announcing she’d inked her first professional sponsorship
deal with TYR.
Ledecky has broken 14 world records and won six Olympic medals, but the
21-year-old didn’t turn professional until after the NCAA collegiate
championships in March.
California swimwear manufacturer TYR said in a statement on Friday that
their deal with Ledecky “represents the most lucrative partnership in the
history of the swim industry,” although no terms were revealed.
In Friday’s Pro Swim meeting sponsored by TYR, Ledecky won the 200m free
in 1 minute, 54.56 seconds.
That improved on the previous best of 2018, the 1:54.81 set by Canadian
Taylor Ruck at the Commonwealth Games in April.
Melanie Margalis was a distant second in 1:57.99.
“That’s exactly where I was hoping to be,” Ledecky said. “I felt like I
could go a 1:54 tonight, after going a 55 this morning. I just wanted to put
together a really great race and make some adjustments off of this morning’s
swim.”
BSS/AFP/MR/1230 hrs