Katie Ledecky etched her name into Olympic history on Thursday, becoming the most decorated female swimmer ever. However, the American legend had to settle for silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay as a dominant Australian team claimed gold.
Ledecky’s accomplishment of 13 Olympic medals surpassed the previous record held by three American swimmers – Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Natalie Coughlin – as well as Australia’s Emma McKeon.
The Australian team, comprised of Mollie O’Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Brianna Throssell, and Ariarne Titmus, delivered a spectacular performance at the La Defense Arena, setting a new Olympic record time of 7 minutes 38.08 seconds. Jamie Perkins and Shayna Jack, who swam in the heats, also shared the gold medal victory.
The US team, consisting of Claire Weinstein, Paige Madden, Erin Gemmell, and Ledecky, trailed behind by 2.78 seconds. Ledecky, known for her powerful swims, put in a valiant effort on the third leg, moving the US team from third to second place. However, the team ultimately couldn’t overcome the Australian team’s impressive performance.
China secured the bronze medal, completing the podium lineup. Ledecky’s historic achievement and the dramatic relay race further highlighted the intense competition and thrilling performances at the Paris Games.
