It’s another win in the books for Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky. On Thursday, August 1, Ledecky won her thirteenth Olympic medal in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, officially becoming the most decorated American woman in Olympic history. Ledecky and Team USA took home the silver medal in the event, solidifying Ledecky’s status as one of the best Olympic swimmers of all time. Ledecky now has thirteen Olympic medals in total: eight gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal. Three of these medals were earned during the Paris Games.
Katie Ledecky Swims to Silver
During the 4×200-meter freestyle on Thursday, Ledecky–along with the rest of Team USA went home with the silver medal in the relay event. Australia procured the top slot and earned the gold, while China took home the bronze medal in the event. Other competitors for the United States were swimmers Claire Weinstein, Paige Madden, and Erin Gemmell. After her win, Ledecky earned her thirteenth Olympic medal, the most of any female swimmer and a feat matched only by the incomparable Michael Phelps (for reference, Phelps has 28 Olympic medals).
Before Thursday’s event, Ledecky also won gold in the women’s 1500-meter freestyle race. When speaking to the media after the event, Ledecky told CBS News, “I just wanted to swim a time I could be really happy with, and that was the one. It’s never easy to win a gold medal. Just trying to soak in every moment of it.”
And swim, she did. Ledecky finished at 15:30.02 in the 1500-meter freestyle, gaining her eighth gold medal in the process. The win secured Ledecky her twelfth Olympic medal overall, and now, with this win in the 4×200-meter event, Ledecky has earned her thirteenth.
One Final Event for Katie Ledecky
There is still one more event to go for Katie Ledecky in Paris. Per The New York Times, Ledecky will compete in Saturday’s 800-meter freestyle event and, with it, earn the chance at another medal. According to the publication, if Ledecky were to win gold in this event, she would tie Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals of any woman in Olympic history. Furthermore, if Ledecky could secure a gold medal win, it would be her fourth consecutive gold medal in that specific event. Ledecky previously won gold in the 800-meter freestyle in London, Rio, and Tokyo.
Upcoming Events in Women’s Swimming
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Other upcoming events in women’s swimming include the 200-meter individual medley, the women’s 200-meter backstroke, the 50-meter freestyle, the 4×100-meter medley relay, and, of course, the 800-meter freestyle. Ledecky’s only remaining event will be the 800-meter freestyle, in which she currently holds both the world and Olympic record for fastest time. Ledecky set the record in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro when she swam an 8:04.79.
The qualifiers for all other remaining events will take place throughout the next few days. Although it is not yet known who will compete in most of these events, it was already decided who would participate in the women’s 200-meter backstroke set for Friday. Olympic swimmers Phoebe Bacon and Regan Smith will compete for the United States. Stay tuned to see who will be swimming in all other events, and be sure to cheer on Katie Ledecky in her final event on Saturday.
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