Northern Lights: Alaska Teen Shocks With Olympic Swim Gold

TOKYO (AP) — Alaska, of all places, has an Olympic champion at the pool.

Seventeen-year-old Lydia Jacoby gave the United States a victory in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke, knocking off defending champion Lilly King.

Jacoby was the first swimmer from the Arctic state ever to make the U.S. Olympic swimming team.

ELECTRIC.

Relive the moment Lydia Jacoby's friends and family cheered her on to GOLD from Seward, Alaska. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/jjLWAlaljy

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2021

Now, she’s heading back to Anchorage with a gold medal.

"We love to keep that gold in the USA family, so this kid just had the swim of her life and I am so proud to be her teammate."

Lydia Jacoby and @_king_lil react to their gold and bronze medals in the women's 100m breaststroke. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/wIEXtFLkMq

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2021

South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker claimed the silver, while King settled for the bronze.

STAND UP ALASKA!

17-year-old Lydia Jacoby WINS GOLD, and everybody's celebrating! #TokyoOlympics x @USASwimming

📺: NBC
💻: https://t.co/GFrdWbcFoO
📱: NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/leYOC2Mzju

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2021

Jacoby’s stunning win salvaged what had been a disappointing morning for the U.S. team, which had only managed a pair of bronzes before the teen came through.

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