Olympics-Swimming-Italy's Quadarella hopes for the best against 'unbeatable' Ledecky

By Rohith Nair

PARIS (Reuters) - Simona Quadarella is a medal favourite in the women's 1,500 metres freestyle at the Paris Olympics but the Italian said on Tuesday that she would have to swim out of her skin when she lines up next to reigning champion Katie Ledecky.

Quadarella is twice a world champion in the 1,500 metres but was second fastest in the Paris heats, 3.76 seconds behind Ledecky, who cruised to victory in her heat.

Ledecky, considered the greatest female distance swimmer of all time, will start in lane four while Quadarella will be in lane five for Wednesday's final.

"I always do races with Katie without thinking about her and without seeing her. It's like the lane is empty with no one," Quadarella said.

"Because I think she is unbeatable. So I will check the other girls and I hope for the best."

Ledecky is one podium away from equalling the record for most medals by an American woman at the Olympics with Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin all on 12 medals each.

"I haven't (spoken to them) but I've been in touch with those three in the past," Ledecky said.

"I know I have a lot of support back home. I'm just looking forward to continuing on this week."

Ledecky holds the world record in the 1,500 metres but the 27-year-old said she was not focused on breaking it in a pool that has seen slower times in all the events.

"I've heard the rumblings (about the slow pool) but at the end of the day, we're here to race," she said.

"We're all fast swimmers, so we make the pool as fast as we want it to be. I'm not really thinking about it."

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Paris; editing by Clare Fallon)