The American swimmer Katie Ledecky has solidified her status as one of the greatest swimmers of all time by winning gold in her signature event, the 800-meter freestyle, at the Paris Olympics. With this victory, Ledecky enters the history books, having now amassed nine Olympic gold medals, which ties her with the Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals won by a woman in any Olympic sport.
French swimmer Léon Marchand also made headlines by winning an impressive four gold medals at these Games, but it was Ledecky who stole the show. In a thrilling finale for the 800-meter freestyle, Ledecky faced a strong challenge from Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus, who swam closely behind her throughout the race. However, through her relentless strategy, Ledecky managed to maintain her lead and reached the wall first with a time of 8:11.04 minutes. Paige Madden secured the bronze medal for the United States.
This marks the fourth time that Ledecky has won gold in the 800-meter freestyle, making her the only woman, alongside her compatriot Michael Phelps, to achieve gold in four different Olympics. With two golds, one silver, and one bronze medal in Paris, Ledecky now has a total of 14 Olympic medals and has indicated that she is considering competing at the upcoming home Olympics in Los Angeles in four years.
In the midst of Ledecky’s triumph, 17-year-old Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh reached new heights by winning her third gold medal in the women’s 200-meter individual medley. McIntosh demonstrated incredible strength with a strong finish, winning with a time of 2:06.56, which is the third-fastest time in history. She had previously won gold in the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly, as well as a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle.
“It feels completely surreal. I am so proud of myself,” McIntosh said after her victory. “I have worked hard for this moment, and I am grateful for my family, my teammates, and my coaches.”
It was not only the women who made an impression in the swimming pool. Hungarian swimmer Kristof Milak won gold in the men’s 100-meter butterfly, bringing his total medal count to four at these Olympics. Milak defeated Canadian swimmer Josh Liendo by 0.09 seconds, marking his second gold following his victory in the 200-meter butterfly.
Last but not least, the USA broke the world record in the 4×100-meter mixed medley relay, with a team consisting of Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske winning gold with a time of 3:37.43, surpassing the previous record set by Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics.
With these remarkable performances in Paris, swimming stars like Ledecky and McIntosh have left their mark on the Olympics, providing fans with an unforgettable experience.