Katie Ledecky, the renowned American swimmer, solidified her status as the greatest female swimmer in Olympic history with a remarkable performance on Thursday. Ledecky contributed to Team USA's silver medal win in the women’s 4x200-meter freestyle relay, marking her 13th Olympic medal.
At 27 years old, Ledecky now stands alone as the only woman to achieve this impressive milestone, surpassing the previous record shared by Jenny Thompson, Emma McKeon, and Dana Torres. Following the event, the swimming icon expressed her gratitude on social media, stating, “A special silver with the relay squad! Proud of this team!”
Ledecky's medal count places her at the top among American female athletes, with only four athletes ahead of her on the overall list. The legendary Michael Phelps leads the pack with an astounding 28 Olympic medals.
With one more event remaining in the Paris Games, Ledecky is set to compete in the 800m freestyle. Should she secure a gold medal in this event, she will become the first woman to achieve gold in the same individual event at four consecutive Olympics. Phelps previously accomplished this historic feat in the 200 IM.
