Katie Ledecky's legend grows with 8th Olympic gold; where does she rank in comparison to all-time great Michael Phelps?
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India, Aug. 1 -- Katie Ledecky consolidated her status as one of the most excellent swimmers ever by securing her second Olympic gold medal in the women's 1,500-meter freestyle at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and eight Olympic Gold overall. This latest victory adds another chapter to her unmatched dominance in long-distance freestyle swimming.
Ledecky clocked in at 15:30.02 to set an Olympic record, with France's Anastasiia Kirpichnikova finishing over ten seconds behind. This win is Ledecky's fourth consecutive at the Summer Games with a gold medal, following her triumphs in London, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo."Of course, coming into tonight, I expected it of myself," she told the Washington Post. "I know a lot of other people expected it of me. And that doesn't make it easy. It's not easy to always follow through and get the job done. There's moments of doubt, hard days of training where you doubt yourself. You just have to push through and trust your training. Trust that everything will come together in the end. I'm glad that it did today."With this victory, Ledecky ties with American legends Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres for the most medals won by a female swimmer in Olympic history. She stands just one medal away from becoming the all-time individual women's leader in swimming medals.Ledecky has already secured a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle at these Games and has a chance to add to her medal vault in the 800-meter freestyle, an event where she has historically ruled with three straight golds."I try not to think about history very much or any of that," Ledecky told the Washington Post. "But I know those names, those people that I'm up with.
They're swimmers that I looked up to when I first started swimming. It's an honor to just be named among them."Over her career, Ledecky has set 16 world records and holds 21 world championship titles. She has dominated the 1,500-meter freestyle, setting the fastest 20 times recorded in the event. Her latest Olympic time, while not a world record, was more than seven seconds faster than her time at the U.S. trials, showcasing her consistent excellence.Comparisons to Michael Phelps are inevitable. While Ledecky's achievements are extraordinary, Phelps remains the most decorated Olympian in history, with 23 Olympic golds, 27 FINA World Championship golds, and 66 gold medals across various competitions. Phelps' unparalleled medal count sets a high bar, but Ledecky's early and sustained success has firmly established her as one of the sport's legends.Ledecky's journey to greatness began at a young age when she won her first Olympic gold at 15. Since then, she has continued to amass medals, including 21 long-course FINA World Championship golds and eight Pan Pacific golds. Her career trajectory mirrors Phelps' early dominance, and her continued success suggests that her legacy will only grow.As Ledecky continues to compete, her achievements prove her brilliance and contribute to the rich history of swimming lore.
