Katie Ledecky, widely regarded as the greatest female swimmer in history, claimed Olympic gold on Wednesday night in the 1,500-metre freestyle, a race she has dominated for over a decade. The incredible achievement of Ledecky Olympic medal adds another chapter to her legendary career. #LedeckyOlympicMedal
Ledecky took command early and never faced a challenge, finishing with an Olympic record time of 15:30.02. This marks her first gold medal of the Paris 2024 Games, adding to the bronze she secured on Saturday in the 400-meter freestyle.
With this victory, Ledecky has now won 12 Olympic medals across four Games, tying the record for the most Olympic swimming medals won by a woman.
She shares this prestigious accolade with fellow Americans Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin, and Australian Emma McKeon, who is also competing in Paris. Ledecky still has two more events to go: the 4×200-meter freestyle relay and the 800-meter freestyle.
Ledecky, 27, remains undefeated in the 1,500-meter freestyle in her professional career, having won five world titles and the inaugural Olympic gold medal in the event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She holds the world record in the 1,500-meter freestyle, which she has set six times, and now boasts the 20 fastest times ever recorded in this race. #LedeckyOlympicMedal
The last time Ledecky was beaten in the 1,500-meter freestyle, she was a high school student competing in a regional meet in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, 14 years ago.
Furthermore, fans around the world celebrated her milestone. Ledecky’s achievement inspired many young athletes to pursue their dreams. The significance of this Ledecky Olympic medal will resonate for years, cementing her legacy in the sport.
