Katie Ledecky smashed another record Thursday when Team USA earned silver in the women’s 4 × 200m freestyle relay.

With 13 medals, the 27-year-old became the most decorated female athlete in Olympic swimming history. Her current victory broke her prior tie with swimmers Natalie Coughlin, Jenny Thompson, and Dara Torres.

The Maryland native won her eighth gold and 12th overall medal in Wednesday’s grueling 1500m freestyle. Ledecky finished the event in an Olympic record time of 15:30.02, tying Thompson for the most gold medals by a female swimmer in Olympic history.

While swimming, Ledecky told reporters that she let her thoughts wander and thought about all of the people that helped her get to where she is now.

“And I kind of let my thoughts wander during the marathon, thinking of all the folks that trained alongside me. It was like repeating their names in my thoughts and thinking about them. I love my Florida team, all of the boys that pushed me every day. I mean, I know I make your life difficult on many days, but you guys made mine a lot easier today, so thank you very much.”

On Thursday, the 27-year-old swimmer had another chance to increase her medal total.

Ledecky, Claire Weinstein, Paige Madden, and Erin Gemmell represented the United States in the 4 × 200m freestyle relay, finishing second to Australia.

The team’s victory handed Ledecky her 13th medal, making her the most decorated American woman in Olympic history and the most decorated woman in any country’s swimming history. Only Michael Phelps, with 28 medals, is ahead of her.


As swimming season comes to an end, Ledecky has one more opportunity to add to her medal collection. She’ll swim in the 800m freestyle on Saturday.

And even though the Paris Olympics marks Ledecky’s fourth Olympics, she hopes to qualify for the games in Los Angeles in 2028.

“Yeah, I’ve been consistent these last few months and these last few years, in saying that I would love to compete in LA, and that hasn’t changed.”

Congratulations, Katie! You are the greatest of all time.

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