Katie Ledecky wrote her spot in the Olympic history books Wednesday, winning the 1,500m free, earning her eighth career gold, and setting an Olympic record time.
Swimming in the prime lane, Ledecky won the second iteration of the Olympic event by more than 10 seconds. She now ties compatriot Jenny Thompson for the most gold medals by a female swimmer in history. Her 12 Olympic medals are the most by an American woman in any sport, and tied for the most by a female swimmer.
Ledecky’s new Olympic-record time of 15:30.02 is the eighth-fastest mark ever. She now occupies the top 20 times for the 1,500m free.
At her fourth Olympics, the 27-year-old swimmer is the oldest American to ever swim the 1,500m free. She’s one of the most consistent athletes in her sport – she’s the current world record holder of both the 800m free and the 1,500m free. Ledecky was the inaugural winner of the 1,500m when the discipline made its debut in Tokyo, and she’s never lost an 800m free or 1,500m free race at a world championships or Olympics.
Ledecky won bronze in the 400m free Saturday and will compete in the 800m free heats Friday.
