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Rio 2016 Olympics: Maya DiRado catches Katinka Hosszu to take 200m backstroke
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Published 13/08/2016 at 03:17 GMT+1
Maya DiRado of the United States won the women's 200 metres backstroke on Friday, reeling in Hungary's Katinka Hosszu in the closing metres to deny her a fourth gold medal of the Rio Olympics.
USA's Madeline "Maya" Dirado celebrates after she won the Women's 200m Backstroke Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 12, 2016
Image credit: AFP
Canada's Hilary Caldwell won bronze.
Hosszu had led from the start, reacting fastest from the block, but DiRado shadowed her the whole way.
The Hungarian led the American by 0.57 seconds at 100 metres and by 0.48 at the final turn, but DiRado fought back and the two were neck-and-neck as they entered the final 25 metres.
DiRado touched the wall in 2 minutes 5.99 seconds to win by 0.06 seconds.
Turning to look at the scoreboard, her eyes widened and she clapped her hand to her mouth as if she could not believe the result.
"It's indescribable. That is just pure joy and surprise and excitement," she said.
Hosszu had already won the 100m backstroke and the 200m and 400m individual medleys in Rio, breaking the world record in the latter.
DiRado, 23, added to her gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay, silver in the 400m individual medley and bronze in the 200m IM.
WOMEN'S 200M BACKSTROKE FINAL RESULTS
1. Maya DiRado (U.S.) 2:5.99
2. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary) 2:06.05
3. Hilary Caldwell (Canada) 2:07.54
4. Daria K Ustinova (Russia) 2:07.89
5. Belinda Hocking (Australia) 2:08.02
6. Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe) 2:08.80
7. Liu Yaxin (China) 2:09.03
8. Eyglo Gustafsdottir (Iceland) 2:09.44
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