2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
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Note: Opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of SwimSwam as a whole.
For the first time in a long time, a women’s 800 free race with Katie Ledecky had some uncertainty.
Since 2012, the event was a sure win for Ledecky. There was a time where she held the 30 fastest times in the race, and she took the event to new heights — lowering the world record from 8:14.10 to 8:04.79 in her career. From when she was 15 to 27, she never lost the race at a major meet. Even when she was in the hospital a few days prior to racing at the 2019 World Championships, she managed to win. Even when Australia’s Ariarne Titmus was riding her waves at the Tokyo Olympics, when Ledecky posted one of her slower 800 free winning times at a major meet (8:12.57), it didn’t feel like she could be passed. Even when teenage phenom Summer McIntosh beat Ledecky in this race for the first time since 2010 earlier this year, it didn’t matter as much because it happened at a smaller meet.
But during this 800 free race at the 2024 Paris Olympics, something shifted.
On one hand, Ledecky’s win is yet another testament to her longevity and continues to cementer her legacy as the most accomplished female swimmer of all-time, and perhaps the second-most accomplished overall swimmer behind Michael Phelps. She touched the wall in a time of 8:11.04, which is still faster than what any other woman in history has gone and over a second faster than any swimmer in the field. It was also over a second quicker than the time she went in Tokyo.
With that win, Ledecky became the first female swimmer (and second swimmer) to four-peat in an event at the Olympics. She also won her ninth gold medal, tying Larisa Latynina for most gold medals amongst female Olympians. She was already a legend before, but now she’s even more so.
But the on the other hand, the 800 free race also felt vulnerable. Ledecky was leading from start to finish, but there were times where Titmus was less than half a meter away from her. Eventually, Ledecky pulled away, but she could never shrug Titmus off. Titmus went a best time of 8:12.24, just over a second away from Ledecky. And then there was bronze medalist Paige Madden, who clocked a time of 8:13.00 — a mark that would have defeated Ledecky at the 2012 Olympics and put her in serious trouble at the 2021 Olympics. It’s one thing for one competition like Titmus and McIntosh to threaten Ledecky, but when it’s multiple people in one race, it’s truly a sign that she’s not quite lonely at the top anymore.
In early 2021, it was only Ledecky’s egregiously large amount of 800 free performances separating her and Rebecca Adlington, the woman who held the 800 free world record before she did. Now, there are four other swimmers in between the two. The world has begun to catch up.
After Tokyo, Ledecky’s dissatisfaction with her times were temporarily quelled with a chance of scenery — she moved from Stanford to Florida to train amongst some of the best male distance swimmers in America. And it worked for a while: in 2023, she posted her fastest 800 and 1500 free performances since 2016 and 2018 respectively. It was the closest she had ever gotten to reaching the heights she achieved as a seemingly invincible teenager, and it truly felt like age was just a number for her. But this year, it proved to be more than that. And the reality is that no matter how many training or technique changes she does, age is inevitable.
For the first time in a long time, the question of “what now?” cannot be answered. Ledecky has already accomplished all that she has — everything else she does just further polishes her legacy. Will she aim to become the first swimmer to five-peat at a home Olympics in 2028? Will she drop the mid-distance races and become a full-on distance specialist (mind you, she still won the 1500 free by over ten seconds)?
Even Ledecky herself doesn’t know the answer, and that might just be because she herself sensed her own vulnerability too. She had long been adamant about wanting to swim at the 2028 Olympics, but it’s not that simple anymore.
“I’d love to, but it’s not easy,” Ledecky said of swimming at the LA Olympics. “I’ll take it year by year and give it everything I’ve got for as long as I have left in me.”
Don’t get us wrong, perhaps a final queen’s coronation on home soil is what Ledecky deserves. For as great as she’s been, it almost feels like she’s never had her Olympics. At the 2016 Rio Games, arguably the best meet of her career, much of the spotlight was on Phelps and his retirement. Dressel was the star of the show at the 2021 Olympics, while Leon Marchand got the glory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. As a swimmer who has completely transcended her sport, Ledecky deserves a moment to herself as well. And what better opportunity than LA?
But four more years might not be what Ledecky wants, or something she thinks she’s capable of. In a career that has been marked with continuity and consistency, the now 27-year-old now steps into the unknown. And that might be what makes us realize that swimming truly won’t be the same when she’s gone.
Other Highlights:
- Canada’s Summer McIntosh virtually locked up the “female swimmer of the meet” award, clocking an Olympic record time to win the 200 IM – her third individual gold medal. Then United States’ Kate Douglass finished second, while her teammate Alex Walsh got third but was then DQed. Canada’s Sydney Pickrem finished sixth.
- The United States’ Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske broke the mixed medley relay world record, while Canada finished fifth.
- Canada’s Josh Liendo and Ilya Kharun took silver and bronze respectivley in the men’s 200 fly. Liendo broke the Canadian record.
North American Medal Table:
| COUNTRY | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE |
| United States | 6 | 12 | 7 |
| Canada | 3 | 2 | 3 |
You know, I get it but… she is the goat.
Its her home turf. She’s expressed interest in swimming. I’d imagine she’s going to go after it. Although most swimmers her age would get written off especially in some of her events, she’s not most swimmers. She’s Katie freaking Ledecky and lets not forget she’s still at the top of the game.
As others alluded, her main competitions status going forward in this event is just as questionable as hers, so I see no reason to stop betting on her now!
Ill say, I was ready to write her off in the 400 as well. But then I thought, domestically who is going to top her? I think… Read more »
I don’t get why people are retiring her in the 400, she has the 2nd fastest time in the world this year.
8:13 by Paige Madden deserves special article. It makes her second fastest American swimmer in this event and fourth in the world. And it all was made at the age of almost 26 that is by opinion of many Swimswam’s commentators the retirement age for long distance swimmers. Where has she been before with such unique talent. What a waste of a natural gift. Being practically at the Ledecky’s age (by long distance career measures) she was just two seconds behind her in this race. If it is not a competition then what is it. And she could be at this position much earlier in her career.
8:13 is outstanding result and should she has a little longer experience… Read more »
As for unfinished business, Katie Ledecky needs to post five sub 15:38.88 performances in the W 1500 FR to knock Lotte Friis out of the Top 25 All-Time Performance List in the W 1500 FR. That’s a two year plan which could be expedited if Katie Ledecky tapered for the Toyota U.S. Open.
The swimming schedule at the Summer Olympics needs to change. The men receive three days off between the final of the 800 FR and the heats of the 1500 FR while the women receive one day off between the final of the 1500 FR and the heats of the 800 FR. To rectify this situation, the W 1500 FR needs to be shifted from Days 4 & 5 to Days 2 & 3 which would mimic the schedule at the World Aquatics Championships:
Day 1: W 400 FR heats/final
Day 2: W 1500 FR heats
Day 3: W 1500 FR final
The argumentation of this article kind of falls flat when you consider the fact that Summer McIntosh likely isn’t going to swim this race ever at an Olympics and that Titmus’ 2028 is arguably equally as in question to Ledecky considering the toll she has acknowledged swimming takes on her. Madden’s alluded to retiring, so three of the four suggested threats might not even be in the picture, yet Ledecky is still written off as having been caught, despite it being acknowledged that Katie still swam a time that other woman in history has touched ever. This article feels like it’s jumping the gun. What other athlete wins gold in dominant fashion and immediately has an article written about them… Read more »
Unless McIntosh or Titmus put more focus on this event you would have to put your money on Ledecky winning it for a fifth time.
i disagree Madden will beat her in 2028
The NBC broadcast crew mentioned Paige Madden was retiring after the 2024 Summer Olympics.
A lot can change in 4 years bro. Nothing is set in stone for 2028
Ledecky shouldn’t swim a hefty schedule anymore. In Los Angeles she would be fine swimming the 800 and 1500 only, and making sure the schedule makers place the 800 first. She can’t have the more vulnerable event late in the meet, which was the case in Tokyo and Paris.
Women’s distance swimming is incredibly pathetic. You never have an exciting young prospect like Tuncelli. Summer’s lark this year and Page Madden’s “why not?” 8:13 are evidence of what I’ve always insisted. Those numbers are no big deal. Ledecky’s monopolization of the all time list is more a condemnation of the events than stratospheric unreachable heights. The 8:04 is excellent but there should be a cluster of sub-8:10 worldwide.
It is… Read more »
Your prediction of Ledecky’s downfall began as soon as she was at the age of 19 in Rio. You provided a lot of statistics that the history proves that the success at long distances cannot be achieved after 19 years age. And the best results in 800m event were packed before Ledecky. And there WAS uncertainty in competition for the gold medal then. And 8:04 IS the unique achievement of unique talent. So unique that even after 12 years long career she is still unreachable. Titmus won’t be faster 8:12, McIntosh’s story in 800 isn’t different than her story at 400 (some outliers shown in out of competition meet). After Rio we did heard same statements from very talented swimmers… Read more »
I believe that this time today was faster than Tokyo and in Tokyo the race was closer with Titmus?