Decoding USA swimmer Katie Ledecky's stats and records at Olympics
Female American swimmer Katie Ledecky has taken the 2024 Paris Olympics by storm. Having clinched four medals so far, she has taken her overall Olympic medal tally to 14. No other female swimmer owns as many more podium finishes at the multi-sport tourney. Meanwhile, Ledecky's maiden Olympic medal came in the 2012 London Games. Here we decode her journey and stats at the Olympics.
4 medals in 2024 event
Ledecky secured a bronze in the 400m freestyle event as she finished the race in 4:00.86 minutes. However, the 800m freestyle competition saw her clinch the gold (8:11.04). The American ace struck another gold in the 1500m freestyle event as her time read 15:30.02. She had to settle for the silver in the 4x200 meters freestyle relay race (7:40.86).
4 medals in Tokyo Games as well
Ledecky secured four medals at the 2020 Tokyo Games as well. She claimed silver in the 400m freestyle event (3:57.36). Two of her medals were gold that year as she finished the 800m freestyle race in 8:12.57 minutes. Ledecky claimed the first position in the 1500m freestyle event as well (15:37.34). She got the silver in the 4×200 m freestyle relay (7:40.73).
4 golds in the 2016 event
Ledecky had a dream run in the 2016 Rio Games as well. She established world records with golds in the 400m and 800m freestyle events (clocking 3: 56.46 and 8:4.79, respectively). Ledecky struck gold in the 800m freestyle event as well (8:04.79). Two of her medals came in team events - silver in 4×100m freestyle relay (3:31.89) and gold in 4×200m freestyle relay (7:43.03).
Solitary medal in 2012 games
Ledecky's maiden Olympic medal came in her debut campaign, the 2012 London Games. At 15, she was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic swimming team. She stunned everyone by striking gold in the 800m freestyle final. The American clocked a time of 8:14.63, the then-second-fastest effort of all time. That was her only medal that year.
Decoding her overall tally
Ledecky's tally of nine Olympic golds is now the joint-most for a female. She joined former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina at the top. While she overall owns 14 medals (4 silver, 1 bronze), only Latynina (18) has more medals among female players in summer games. Eight of Ledecky's golds have come at individual events. Overall, she has 10 individual medals (4 in team events).
Olympic Records held by Ledecky
The 1500m freestyle event in Paris saw Ledecky register an all-time Olympic record (15:30.02). She also scripted a couple of key milestones at the 2016 Rio Games as well. As mentioned, she registered world records with top-place finishes in the 400m and 800m freestyle events (clocking 3: 56.46 and 8:4.79, respectively).
