If it wasn’t official before, it is now.
Katie Ledecky swam herself to history on Thursday, becoming the all-time medal leader in women’s swimming.
She can now be considered the G.O.A.T. of her sport.
From left: Erin Gemmell, Katie Ledecky, Paige Madden and Claire Weinstein celebrate with their silver medals after the 4x-200 women’s freestyle relay on Aug. 1, 2024. REUTERS
Katie Ledecky (l.) sits with her teammates during the 4x200m freestyle relay on Aug. 1, 2024. AP
The 27-year-old Ledecky won a silver medal in the women’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay, a day after she took home gold in the 1,500-meter.
She now has 13 medals, more than any women’s swimmer and the most by an American woman in any sport. She had been tied with Jenny Thompson, Emma McKeon and Dara Torres.
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“I try not to think about history very much,” Ledecky told reporters after tying the aforementioned trio. “I know those names, those people that I’m up with. They’re swimmers that I looked up to when I first started swimming. It’s an honor to be named among them. I’m grateful to them for inspiring me and so many great swimmers over the years in the U.S. that have helped me get to this moment.”
Katie Ledecky swims during the 4x200m freestyle relay at the Olympics on Aug. 1, 2024. Getty ImagesLedecky was hoping to win gold in the event, but she and American teammates Claire Weinstein, Paige Madden and Erin Gemmell had to settle for silver after finishing behind an Australian foursome led by individual gold medalists Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus.
China, the defending Olympic champion in the event, won bronze.
Ledecky — a Bethesda, Md., native — and Michael Phelps are the only swimmers in Olympic history to earn at least 13 medals. Phelps won a whopping 28.
The U.S. team of Claire Weinstein, Paige Madden, Katie Ledecky and Erin Gemmell reacts after winning silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay on Aug. 1, 2024. AFP via Getty ImagesLedecky now has three medals in the Paris Olympics. She also took home bronze in the 400-meter free in her fourth Olympic Games.
Ledecky has one event left — the 800-meter freestyle. She is favored to win gold in the event for a fourth straight Olympics, after winning them at previous Games in London, Rio and Tokyo.
Another gold would tie Ledecky with Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals (nine) for any female Olympian in history.
Ledecky also intends on competing in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
What’s next?
Event: Women’s 800m freestyle
When: Final — Saturday, 3:08 p.m.
TV: NBC
At stake: If Katie Ledecky wins gold in her final event in Paris, she will equal Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals (nine) by any female Olympian in history.
