Katie Ledecky has rewritten the record book.
The American swim legend tied the record for most overall medals won by a female swimmer at the Olympics when she captured gold in the women’s 1,500 metres on Wednesday at Paris 2024. She did so in an Olympic-record time of 15 minutes, 30.02 seconds. She finished more than 10 seconds ahead of silver-medal winner Anastasiya Kirpichnikova of France.
Ledecky now shares the record of 12 overall medals with fellow Americans Dara Torres, Jenny Thompson and Natalie Coughlin. She can become the sole record holder Thursday assuming she competes in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay with the U.S. team.
The 1,500 gold was the second medal of these Games for Ledecky, who took bronze in the 400-metre freestyle on opening day.
Ledecky now has eight gold medals overall.
She was a heavy favourite in the 1,500, having not lost at a race at that distance in 14 years.
