As Team USA’s women’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay team won the silver on Thursday, Katie Ledecky broke yet another record.
The 27-year-old became the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history with her 13 medals. She had been tied with Dara Torres, Jenny Thompson, and swimmer Natalie Coughlin until her most recent victory.
On Wednesday, the Maryland native won her eighth gold medal overall and her 12th overall in the tough 1500m freestyle. Ledecky finished the swim in an Olympic record time of 15:30.02, tying Thompson for the most gold medals won by a female swimmer in Olympic history.
Ledecky told reporters that while swimming, she let her mind wander and thought about everyone who had helped bring her to this point.
“And I kind of let my mind wander during the race, thinking about everyone I’ve trained with.” felt like shouting their names in my head as I thought about them. My Florida crew—all those Florida dudes who pushed me every day—I love you guys. You guys truly made my life easy today, even though I know I frequently make yours difficult. Thank you so much for that.
On Thursday, the 27-year-old swimmer had another chance to add to her collection of medals.
In the 4 × 200m freestyle relay, Ledecky, Claire Weinstein, Paige Madden, and Erin Gemmell represented Team USA, coming in second place behind Australia.
With the team’s triumph and her 13 medals overall, Ledecky became the most decorated American woman in Olympic history and the most decorated woman of any nation in swimming history. With 28 medals, she is just above of Michael Phelps.
As the swimming season comes to an end, Ledecky has one more opportunity to add to her medal count. She’ll compete in the 800m freestyle on Saturday.
Even though Ledecky is competing in her fourth Olympics overall—her first being in Paris—she hopes to earn a spot for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
“Yes, I have been consistent over the past few months or years in saying that I would love to compete in Los Angeles.”
Katie, well done! History’s greatest is you.
