American women won silver in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the Paris La Défense Arena, with Katie Ledecky, Claire Weinstein, Paige Madden, and Erin Gemmell finishing second behind Australia. Australia set an Olympic-record time of 7:38.08 to take gold, while defending champion China settled for bronze. Ledecky was a key part of the team, swimming the third leg in 1:54.93 to help secure the silver medal. This brought Ledecky’s total Olympic medals to 13, making her the most decorated female swimmer in Olympics history. She will have the opportunity to add to this total in her final event, the 800m freestyle.
Ledecky also won the 1,500-meter freestyle event on Thursday, setting an Olympic record in the process. This victory earned her eighth gold medal and twelfth overall medal. With this accomplishment, Ledecky surpassed other American swimming legends like Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Natalie Coughlin in terms of total medals. Her impressive medal haul has come from multiple Olympic Games in London, Rio, Tokyo, and now France. Despite her success, Ledecky shows no signs of slowing down and has expressed her desire to qualify for the 2028 games in Los Angeles.
The 27-year-old Ledecky has cemented her status as one of the greatest female swimmers of all time with her record-breaking performances and consistent success at the Olympic level. Her dominance in the pool has set her apart from her competitors and established her as a role model for aspiring swimmers around the world. Ledecky’s dedication, hard work, and perseverance have been key factors in her remarkable achievements, and her contributions to the sport of swimming will be remembered for years to come.
Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Ledecky has set her sights on qualifying and competing in the event. Swimming will be held at SoFi Stadium, located near the University of Southern California, where she hopes to add to her already illustrious Olympic career. With her experience, talent, and determination, Ledecky will be a formidable presence in the pool for years to come, inspiring the next generation of swimmers and continuing to make history in the sport of swimming.
