Katie Ledecky has now etched her name in Olympic history as the most decorated American woman ever. On Thursday, she clinched her record 13th Olympic medal with a silver in the women’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay, finishing behind the Australian team. According to The Athletic, no other American woman has surpassed the 12-medal mark, and no female swimmer globally has exceeded her tally.
Ledecky, who first captured audiences at the 2012 London Olympics as a teenager, has established herself as a towering figure in sports, joining the ranks of other legends like Simone Biles. Biles recently became the most decorated American gymnast with nine Olympic medals. This latest achievement follows Ledecky’s triumph in the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle on Wednesday, where she earned her eighth gold medal and 12th overall, matching the records of Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Natalie Coughlin.
Reflecting on her journey, Ledecky remarked, “I try not to focus too much on the historical aspect. I’m aware of the esteemed swimmers I’m now mentioned alongside, swimmers I admired when I began. It’s truly an honor and I’m thankful for their inspiration and the support of U.S. swimmers who helped me reach this point.”
But the saga isn’t over. Ledecky is set to compete in her final event, the women’s 800-meter freestyle, on Saturday. A gold medal here would tie her with Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most Olympic gold medals won by a woman. With her track record, it’s clear that Ledecky is more than capable of achieving this feat. Are you enjoying this historic moment? We certainly are.