Getty Image / Maddie Meyer
Katie Ledecky has been a swimming phenomenon since she was in middle school, but I’m not sure anyone saw the kind of absolutely dominant career she had coming until her first Olympic event back in 2012, when she stunned the world by winning gold in the 800m in London.
Now, she’s the most decorated female Olympian in American history after capturing yet another medal on Thursday.
Ledecky got off to a slow start, for her standards, at these Olympic Games, as she took a bronze medal in the 400M Freestyle against a stacked field. But, in her second even of the Olympic Games, she was back to her dominant self. Ledecky continued to own the 1500m Freestyle event that she has the best 20 times of all-time when she won gold in that event on Wednesday.
That left her with 12 Olympic medals, tied all-time with swimmers Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres for the most medals by any female in American history. And, going into the 4×200 Meter Freestyle Relay on Thursday night, any color medal would give her the record.
Katie Ledecky swam a great third leg to significantly close the gap between the USA and Australia, but it wasn’t as Australia cruised home for gold. But, the USA took silver, and Katie Ledecky became the most decorated female Olympian in American history.
Overall, she now has 8 golds, 4 silvers, and 1 bronze. Katie Ledecky will likely add to that tally in Saturday’s 800m Freestyle Final, though the color is to be determined. While she’s the favorite to win gold, Australian phenom Ariarne Titmus could give her a real challenge in an event that Ledecky has won gold in at all three Olympic Games she’s previously competed in.
At 27, she could certainly be back for another Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. The all-time top medal winner in Olympic history for women is Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina with 18. It’s feasible that Ledecky could pass her with a great performance in four years.