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Katie Ledecky breaks Olympic record in 1500m freestyle, wins eighth Olympic gold

July 31, 2024
Thirty laps? That’s nothing for Team USA icon Katie Ledecky, who dominantly defended her 1500m freestyle Olympic title yesterday, setting an Olympic record on the way to her first gold in Paris. Here’s a look at the GOAT’s performance, by the numbers.
Sports NewsSwimming
Katie Ledecky breaks Olympic record in 1500m freestyle, wins eighth Olympic goldKatie Ledecky breaks Olympic record in 1500m freestyle, wins eighth Olympic gold
Source: Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images

The GIST: Thirty laps? That’s nothing for Team USA icon Katie Ledecky, who dominantly defended her 1500m freestyle Olympic title yesterday, setting an Olympic record on the way to her first gold in Paris. Here’s a look at the GOAT’s performance, by the numbers.

12: The number of Olympic medals Ledecky has won across four Olympics, tying her with legends Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Natalie Coughlin for most swimming medals by an American woman. The only person who has more medals in Team USA history? Michael Phelps, with 28.

8: The number of Ledecky’s medals that are shiny, shiny gold. Bling, bling.

15 minutes, 30.02 seconds: That’s how fast Ledecky swam the 1500m free yesterday, giving her a new Olympic record…and breaking the one that she previously set in 2021. In fact, the top 20 fastest times in the event are all hers. Incroyable.

2: The 27-year-old still has two events left in Paris — the 4x200m freestyle relay today at 4:03 p.m. ET and the 800m freestyle, with the semis set for tomorrow at 5:52 a.m. ET. Just keep swimming, literally.

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