The Paris Olympics 2024 is witnessing new records with back-to-back performances and celebrating the most decorated athletes. On July 31, 2024, Katie Ledecky, the greatest swimmer of all time, won gold in the women’s 1500m freestyle. Consequently, she became the first female swimmer to win gold at four Olympics. Moreover, with this gold, Ledecky tied Jenny Thompson for the most Olympic gold medals by an American woman. In addition, she tied the record for the most Olympic medals by an American woman with 12 medals.
“I’m just so honored to represent our country. I drew inspiration from all the women before me,” said Katie Ledecky
Golden Milestone and Future Goals
Ledecky touched first with a time of 15:30.02, breaking her Olympic record before a cheering Paris crowd.
France’s Anastasiya Kirpichnikova claimed silver with 15:40.35, while Germany’s Isabel Gose secured third place with 15:41.16. Simona Quadarella of Italy, who finished fourth with 15:44.05, was the only other swimmer to break 16 minutes.
Katie Ledecky, as the captain of the Paris Olympics 2024 swimming team, leads by example. She is set to compete in two more events in Paris, aiming to secure the most total and gold medals by an American woman. Moreover, Ledecky has also expressed her desire to compete in Los Angeles in 2028.
Making and Breaking Records at the Paris Olympics 2024
Katie Ledecky is one of the greatest athletes and the greatest swimmer of all time. The 2024 Paris Olympics adds another achievement to her impressive record. This includes not just swimming but the entire Olympic Games. Join us as we explore a few of the long list of Katie Ledecky’s remarkable accomplishments.
- With three total Paris medals, Ledecky surpasses Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Natalie Coughlin, thus becoming the most decorated U.S. woman in Olympic history.
- Moreover, with an eighth gold medal, Ledecky would tie Jenny Thompson for the most gold medals ever by an American woman.
- Additionally, with a ninth gold medal, Ledecky sets the record for the most gold medals ever by an American woman.
- Furthermore, with a tenth gold medal, Ledecky set the record for the most gold medals by a woman athlete and followed Michael Phelps with 10 Olympic gold medals.
- If Ledecky wins gold in the 800m free, she will be the first woman to win the same event at the four Olympics. Consequently, she would join Michael Phelps as only the second swimmer to achieve this feat.
Swimming Away to Moon: The Presidential Honour
NBC Sports revealed that Ledecky has swum an astonishing 37 million meters in her lifetime—around 23,000 miles. This immense distance is roughly equivalent to the circumference of the Earth. To put it simply, Ledecky has swum nearly one-tenth of the way to the moon by now.
President Joe Biden awarded Katie Ledecky the Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier this year, for her astonishing swimming accomplishments. With this, she became the first swimmer to receive this honor. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the United States. Ledecky joined notable recipients like Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Yeoh, and Al Gore in May.
