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Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10

So much for the dire predictions of US swimming flop in Rio

United States' Katie Ledecky shows off her gold medal in the women's 800-meter freestyle medals ceremony during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
United States' Katie Ledecky shows off her gold medal in the women's 800-meter freestyle medals ceremony during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) United States' Katie Ledecky shows off her gold medal in the women's 800-meter freestyle medals ceremony during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – They teamed up for a carpool karaoke video. They planted their flag in Brazil. And when the Olympics are done, they’ll be remembered as the latest in a long line of U.S. swimming powerhouses.

So much for all those dire forecasts.

Turns out, the less-than-glittering times at the U.S. trials were no indication of how fast they would swim once they got to the big stage. And all those who thought they were too inexperienced to shine on the international stage totally missed the mark.

The Americans finished off the final night at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium by equaling their biggest medal haul in the last three decades.

Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky & Co. made sure the U.S. stayed firmly atop the swimming world.