The victory of Katie Ledecky in the 1,500-meter freestyle on Wednesday earned her a record-tying 12th career medal, equaling the achievements of Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Natalie Coughlin among American female swimmers.
This commanding win, achieved with an Olympic record time, also marked Ledecky’s eighth career gold medal, tying Thompson’s record for the most golds won by a female swimmer in Olympic history.
Though Ledecky admitted she doesn’t focus much on historical records, she expressed admiration for the legendary U.S. swimmers she now joins.
“These women I’m now alongside are those I’ve looked up to for years,” Ledecky said after her race. “I consider many of them as friends and supporters, people I watched while starting out in the sport, so sharing this with them is very special. They have definitely inspired me.”
As Ledecky, from Bethesda, Maryland, touched the wall and saw her time of 15:30.02 on the scoreboard, she celebrated with a rare display of emotion by slapping the water.
“I was just happy with the time and how it felt,” she said. “Winning any gold medal is tough. I’m trying to appreciate the moment and the happiness and joy that come with it, even if I don’t usually celebrate this much.”
Contemporary Australian swimmer Emma McKeon also has 12 medals — six gold, two silver, and four bronze — putting all five swimmers at the top for the most podium finishes by a female swimmer.
Thompson earned her medals in Athens (2004), Sydney (2000), Atlanta (1996), and Barcelona (1992), while Ledecky, aged 27, has won medals in Tokyo, Rio (2016), and London (2012).
Coughlin secured three golds, four silvers, and five bronzes in Athens, Beijing (2008), and London (2012).
Torres earned four of each medal in Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988), Barcelona, Sydney, and Beijing.
Ledecky may add to her medal tally with upcoming events: the 4×200-meter freestyle relay on Thursday and the 800-meter freestyle on Friday at Paris La Défense Arena.
Earlier in the week, Ledecky won the first bronze of her career in the 400-meter freestyle, finishing third behind gold medalist Ariarne Titmus of Australia and runner-up Summer McIntosh of Canada.
McKeon also reached her 12th overall medal on Saturday as part of Australia’s victorious 4×100-meter freestyle relay team.
Ledecky shared the limelight on Wednesday with French national hero Léon Marchand, who won two gold medals in dramatic fashion about two hours apart.
Marchand, a former Arizona State star, set an Olympic record in the 200 butterfly, overtaking silver medalist Kristóf Milák of Hungary with a strong finish. Milák, who held the previous Olympic mark, also holds the world record.
Marchand capped off the night with another Olympic record in the 200 breaststroke, energized by the roaring French crowd.
While elite athletes often block out crowd noise, Marchand embraced every sound as he pursued Milák.
“I wasn’t ignoring it. I was trying to hear everything,” he said. “I could feel the entire pool going crazy. I think that’s why I won, using the crowd’s energy to my advantage.”
