American swimmer Katie Ledecky won her 12th career Olympic medal in the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle, tying her with Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Natalie Coughlin for the most by an American female swimmer. Ledecky’s victory also earned her eighth career gold medal, tying Thompson’s record for the most by a U.S. woman in Olympic history. She expressed admiration for the iconic swimmers she now shares the record with. Ledecky’s previous medals were won in London, Rio, and Tokyo.
Ledecky, who hails from Maryland, expressed joy at her victory and the Olympic record time she achieved in the 1,500-meter freestyle. She also competes in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay and the 800-meter freestyle in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite her success, she remained humble and appreciative of the moment.
In addition to Ledecky, Australian swimmer Emma McKeon also has 12 total medals, positioning both athletes at the top of the list for most podium appearances by a female swimmer. Ledecky’s historic achievement was celebrated alongside French swimmer Léon Marchand, who won two gold medals in thrilling fashion in the 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke, setting Olympic records.
Marchand attributed his success to the energy from the crowd, which he embraced as he chased down his competitors. While elite athletes often block out noise, Marchand found inspiration in the enthusiastic support of the French audience.
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