Katie Ledecky Ties Most Olympic Gold Medals Won by an American Woman with 8th Olympic Title

by Charlotte Wells 14

July 31st, 2024 News, Paris 2024

2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games

Women’s 1500 Freestyle – Final

  • World Record: 15:20.48 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)
  • World Junior Record: 15:28.36 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
  • Olympic Record: 15:35.35 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2021)
  • 2021 Winning Time: 15:37.34
  • 2021 Time to Win Bronze: 15:42.91
  1. Katie Ledecky (United States) – 15:30.02 (Olympic Record)
  2. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (France) – 15:40.35
  3. Isabel Gose (Germany) – 15:41.16
  4. Simona Quadarella (Italy) – 15:44.05
  5. Li Bingjie (China) – 16:01.03
  6. Moesha Johnson (Australia) – 16:02.70
  7. Beatriz Dizotti (Brazil) – 16:02.86
  8. Leonie Martens (Germany) – 16:12.57

Katie Ledecky reached a historical career milestone in Paris when she became the Olympic champion in the 1500-meter freestyle on Wednesday, winning by over ten seconds in an Olympic record time of 15:30.02.

The win marked her eighth Olympic gold medal, tying her for the most Olympic gold medals won by an American woman in any sport.

Ledecky shares the honor with former swimmer Jenny Thompson, who first rose to prominence at the 1987 Pan American Games when she won the 50-meter free at just 14-years-old.

Ledecky’s victory in the 1500 also marked her 12th Olympic medal of any kind, another historical milestone for her; she is now tied with Americans Thompson, Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin and Australian Emma McKeon for the most Olympic medals won by a female swimmer from any country.

McKeon just joined the elite crew earlier this Olympic Games when she represented Australia on their gold medal-winning 4×100 free relay.

“I did have fun,” Ledecky said after the race today. “I felt really good. I just tried to hold steady the whole time. Hold my stroke, hold my time, each 50 [meters] and to swim a time that I could feel really happy with. I’m really proud of that swim.”

Ledecky also thanked her Florida crew and teammates for pushing her to be her best everyday.

Now the back-to-back defending Olympic champion in the 1500 free, Ledecky also holds the 20 fastest performances of all time in the event, including the world record (15:20.48), which she set back in 2018.

Ledecky will look to add another medal to her growing haul when she competes in the 800 free on Friday.

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JimSwim22
31 minutes ago

Has there been a discussion or study on why swingers retire or get slower at such early ages? Distance runners peak at the ages swimmers retire then go well into their 30s in a sport that is much harder on your body than swimming

SJS
2 hours ago

KL went out in 8:14 at 800m.

Perhaps a good sign of what’s to come in the 800fr.

Go KL!

Steve Nolan
Reply to  SJS
2 hours ago

Ooh she was 8:16 in prelims / /8:17 in Tokyo final. (Was 8:22 prelims here, so. We’re conserving! Relay names guy, vindicated!)

dogwater
Reply to  SJS
37 minutes ago

magnussen said he thinks ariarne could beat her but after seeing this split it’s pretty much joever. I don’t see titmus dropping a bunch of time to keep pace. magnussen is still delusional after all these years

Fraser Thorpe
3 hours ago

GOAT is GOATing, and she just had Sarah join her in the élite platinum VIP GOAT section

GAW
Reply to  Fraser Thorpe
3 hours ago

Sarah joined this status after her 50’s at World Champs last year, along with most world titles of all time. Tonight just silenced the doubters.

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  GAW
1 hour ago

Her talent has never been in doubt – but Olympic gold, for better or worse, is still the main arbiter when it comes to greatness. And in that regard her CV was lacking. And it was more glaring BECAUSE of her enormous and undisputed talent. She needed a gold here to push her into that top echelon.

JimSwim22
4 hours ago

7th individual gold right? That’s amazing

Swimmin in the South
Reply to  JimSwim22
3 hours ago

Yes, which is way more impressive since all of Dara’s and Jenny’s golds were relays. I think Natalie had 2?

Swimm394
Reply to  Swimmin in the South
2 hours ago

Not to mention Katie doesn’t even really swim in the relays since she’s a distance swimmer, so she’s at a disadvantage there

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  JimSwim22
3 hours ago

Katie Ledecky eyes #8 in the W 800 FR.

Edwards Miami
4 hours ago

Phan Zanhle is impressive

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  Edwards Miami
3 hours ago

who is Phan Zanhle

LBSWIM
Reply to  Emily Se-Bom Lee
31 minutes ago

Pan’s biggest Phan.