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

2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games

• Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
  • Open Water Swimming: August 8-9, 2024
• La Defense Arena – Paris, France
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Full Swimming Schedule
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Pick ‘em Contest
• How To Watch
• Entry Lists
• Live Results
• Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5
• Finals Live Recaps: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5

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.