Olympic highlights from Day 7: Katie Ledecky beats 800m record

Katie Ledecky became the first woman to win the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle since the 1968 Mexico City games, The New York Times reported. She beat the second-place finisher, Jazz Carlin from Great Britain, by 11.38 seconds.

In swimming, 11 seconds is a long time. To put it in perspective: “The men’s 100-meter dash final Sunday in track and field will begin and end in the time [Ledecky] spent waiting” for other competitor’s to finish, The Washington Post.

The New York Times put out a simple graphic to provide a sense of what 11 seconds feels like.

Start this countdown and imagine you’re Katie Ledecky in the 800-meter freestyle: https://t.co/Tm4ZuXC73n pic.twitter.com/A8K9PY8aFV

— NYT Graphics (@nytgraphics) August 13, 2016

As Ledecky neared the end, Carlin and the other swimmers were nearly half a pool length behind.

Katie Ledecky swims the final lap of the 800 meter freestyle, her nearest competitors nearly half a pool length behind, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 12, 2016. Photo by Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

The U.S. women’s soccer team, winner of three consecutive gold medals, tied Sweden 1-1 before losing in penalty kicks.

After the match, Hope Solo, goalie for the U.S. team, took aim at what she called Sweden’s “cowardly” style of play.

“The best team did not win today,’’ she added. “I strongly and firmly believe that.’’

Solo’s comments spurred angry U.S. fans to threaten boycotts of Swedish companies, like Ikea, spurring conversation online about lack of American sportsmanship.

21-year-old Singaporean swimmer Joseph Schooling beat his childhood idol Michael Phelps in the 100 meter butterfly. By touching the wall first in 50.39 seconds, Schooling not only set a new Olympic record, but made history by winning the first-ever gold medal for his country.

“My hat’s definitely off to him,” Phelps told NBC Sports.

After a race, a photo went viral on Twitter showing a young Schooling posing with Phelps before the 2008 Olympics.

#SIN's Joseph Schooling idolized Michael Phelps as a boy. Last night he beat him the 100m butterfly. #Swimming pic.twitter.com/FCIYAkGj60

— Rio 2016 (@Rio2016_en) August 13, 2016

“If it wasn’t for Michael, I don’t think I could have gotten to this point. I wanted to be like him as a kid,” said Schooling, according to Reuters.

Three months after his withdrawal from the French Open due to a wrist injury, Rafael Nadal of Spain, with his doubles partner Marc Lopez, won the first tennis gold medal of the games. It was Nadal’s second Olympic gold, following his singles win in the 2008 Olympics.

“It’s something unforgettable for me, for both of us, I think,” Nadal said after the match, according to CNN.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY MOMENTS

American skeet shooter Kim Rhode took home a bronze medal, becoming the first woman to earn an individual medal in six consecutive games. Italian luger Armin Zoeggeler is the only other athlete with the same achievement.

Rhode noted to NBC that in the 1996 Olympics, the athletes received free pagers.

“Talking to some of the Olympians now, what’s a pager?” Rhode told NBC, adding that she has been playing Pokemon Go with her teammates.

Congrats to @KimRhode, the 1st female Olympian to medal in 6 consecutive games! @USAShooting Photo by @kevinjairaj pic.twitter.com/38cZBz14sT

— USATODAYSportsImages (@usatsimg) August 12, 2016

Egyptian judo player Islam El Shehaby refused to shake the hand of his Or Sasson, his Israeli opponent, after their match, The Times reported. It was a major breech of judo etiquette. El Shehaby was swiftly booed.

At the end of the day, French judoka Teddy Riner defended his title with another gold.

DOUBLE CHAMPION OLYMPIQUE!!!!!!!!! #RIO2016 #espritbleu @FranceOlympique pic.twitter.com/hto64yFcOh

— Teddy Riner (@teddyriner) August 12, 2016