>> yeah, i guess it was a little unexpected how it played out, but the crowd was great for rebecca adlingtonnd i took it and put it in my own race. >> and cullen, you were two-fifths of a second behind, but you talk about your mom. >> i do. >> and she gave you some advice. what did mom say? >> that if you're really going to do this olympics this year, you're going to do it right, so get your butt in the pool. so, yeah. >> good advice. go home, work hard. >> at least she let you keep your medal. >> yes. >> sorry, katie. >> it's still early. >> and elizabeth, you competed in the 200-meter backstroke. you had a real come-from-behind there, didn't you? >> yeah. i was fourth at the 150 turn, so my last 50 got me third place, which i'm really excited about. >> did you have a sense where the others were when you were trying to make that move? >> yeah, i knew exactly where i was. missy was way far ahead, but i knew it was going to be -- >> i loved the two of you afterwards. one minute you're competing, the next you're like sisters. >> oh, yeah, absolutely. after the race i looked at her and said do

i knew i had to calm down and that the crowd would be there for rebecca adlington. i just focused on my lane and my own race. i was a lot less nervous and very calm. >> reporter: he decky's time of 8:16.22 smashed a 23-year-old record held by janet evans and is the second fastest time in history. >> were you aware how fast you were swimming? >> i thought i was pretty fast since i was that far ahead. i thought at one point if this is close to the world record and i miss it i don't even care. i want to get my hand on the wall first. >> reporter: team usa's youngest olympian was composed. but finally on the medal stand the magnitude of the moment hit her. >> i just remembered watching all the podium ceremonies when i was a little kid and seeing how inspiring those were and just being on that gold medal stand was just unbelievable and just a dream cool true. >> reporter: it was a dream for the entire ledecky family. they had to wait nearly three hours after the race to see their baby girl. >> we just can't believe it. i found out later she broke the american record by t

at 8 minutes 15.63 seconds she outdistanced the defending champion rebecca adlington of briton who took the bronze. ledecky was traveling with her proud mother accident most outstanding of all -- mother, most outstanding of all she bested janet evans american record of 18.22 set 23 years ago. >> it was really sweet. i was aware of her great accomplishments and all the americans have done really well in that event and so it meant a lot to have a record. >> the whole experience has been absolutely fabulous. it's very surreal for her. it is so much fun watching her swim. she's run a great race. >> mom said the whole thing had a kind of dreamlike quality. she said she didn't know katie had broken the record until 10 minimum nuts after the race and we hear evans tweeted her -- minutes after the race and we hear evans beated her congratulations say -- tweeted her congratulations. >>> a plastic bottle was thrown on the track yesterday right before the men's 100-meter final. the guy was sitting near a female judo bronze medalist who smacked him moments after he threw the trash. she got thanks a

i knew i had to calm down and just -- i knew that the crowd would be there for rebecca ad li -- adlington. >> it goes down as the second fastest time in history. >> were you aware of how fast you were swimming? >> i thought it was pretty fast since i was that far ahead. i actually thought at one point if this is close to the world record and i mitt it, i don't care, i just want to get my hand on the wall first. >> team usa's younge esest olym was remarkably composed. but suddenly the moment hit her. >> honestly i remembered and it was a dream come true. >> the entire family who to wait nearly three hours after the race to see their baby girl. >> we just can't believe it. then i found out later that she broke the american record by two seconds. one and a half seconds. i mean, wow! couldn't believe it. >> and what's next for the soon to be high school sophomore at stone ridge? >> i'm really excited to go back home. >> when do you think coach will put you back to work? >> pretty soon. i'm excited to get back to work, though. >> we have much more coverage coming up. can you get the latest new