Tokyo Olympics schedule: Katie Ledecky headlines swimming finals with 200m, 1,500m races on Day 5
Katie Ledecky has a chance at making history Wednesday in Tokyo as the first woman to win Olympic gold in the 1,500 meter freestyle.
The mile-long race, which isn't actually a full mile, first debuted at the Olympics in 1908, but only for men. However, women have been competing in the event for years at other meets, and Ledecky holds the world record time of 15:20.48.
Ledecky swam a total of 2,100 meters on Monday between her 400-meter freestyle final, 200-meter freestyle qualifying heat and 1,500-meter qualifier. She finished second behind Australia's Ariarne Titmus in the 400-meter final. It was the first time the 24-year-old has won anything but gold at the Olympics.
In her qualifying heat for the 1,500, Ledecky placed first with a time of 15:35.35. Before she competes for a medal in the distance event though, she'll have another chance to earn her first gold in Tokyo in the 200-meter free.
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How to watch
All times are Eastern
NBC: 12 p.m. to 2 a.m.
USA: 24-hour coverage
CNBC: 24-hour coverage
NBCSN: 24-hour coverage
Olympic Channel: 24-hour coverage
Golf Channel: 6:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Thursday)
Peacock: 12:40 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Biggest events
All times are Eastern
8 p.m.: Gymnastics women's team final replay; Swimming – women's 200m freestyle final, men's 200m butterfly final, women's 200m individual medley final, women's 1,500m freestyle final, men's 4x200m freestyle relay (NBC)
10 p.m.: Tennis – men's singles, third round; women's singles and doubles, quarterfinals; men's doubles, semifinals; mixed, first round (Olympic Channel)
12:35 a.m.: Women's water polo – USA vs. Hungary (NBC)
12:40 a.m.: Men's basketball – USA vs. Iran (Peacock and streaming on NBCOlympics.com, NBC Sports app)
2 a.m.: Rugby – men's bronze medal and final; 3x3 basketball finals (USA)
6 a.m.: Men's gymnastics all-around (Peacock and streaming on NBCOlympics.com and NBC Sports app)
7 a.m.: Men's soccer – France vs. Japan (NBCSN)
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Brennan: 'I wouldn't be here without her': Ariarne Titmus thanks Katie Ledecky after beating her
'It just is always building': Women's skateboarding competition shows IOC was wise to include in Tokyo Olympics
10 to watch: U.S. karateka Sakura Kokomai took long, sometimes lonely road to Tokyo Olympics
Contact Emily Leiker at eleiker@usatoday.com or on Twitter @emleiker
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2021 Olympics schedule Day 5: Katie Ledecky to swim 200m, 1500m finals
