Katie Ledecky blasted through the 1500 meter freestyle final Wednesday, flying to a first place finish in an Olympic record 15:30.02.
Ledecky now holds the 20 fastest times in the event’s history. Her gold medal represents her eighth, tying her with retired swimmer Jenny Thompson for the most gold medals won by an American woman in swimming – or any sport.
Ledecky led the race from the beginning and was ahead of her own world record split times for the first few hundred meters. Even when she fell off of that blistering pace, she still built an enormous lead over the rest of the field, going viral again for being so far ahead that she was the only athlete in the camera frame.
KATIE LEDECKY SETS NEW OLYMPIC RECORD IN WOMEN'S 1500M 🤯
SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE CAMERA FRAME pic.twitter.com/bagVIE8d3l
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 31, 2024
Ledecky won by more than 10 seconds, with France’s Anastasiia Kirpichnikova coming in second and Isabel Gose of Germany taking the bronze medal.
Ledecky was the second American Wednesday to earn a medal with Arlington, Va.’s Torri Huske earning a silver in the 100 freestyle earlier in the proceedings after a stellar swim.
🥇 100m fly
🥈 100m freeTorri Huske didn't come to mess around.
📺: @NBCOlympics & @peacock #ParisOlympics
pic.twitter.com/qIru2W9w4u— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 31, 2024
Ledecky has one individual event remaining as she will swim the 800 freestyle in prelims on Friday. She is also slated to compete in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay on Thursday.
