Ledecky Joins Phelps As Only Swimmers To Accomplish Olympic Feat

Katie Ledecky is no stranger to making sports history.

After locking up her fourth gold-medal win in the 800-meter freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday, Ledecky joined fellow Olympic great Michael Phelps as the only two swimmers to win four gold medals in the same event (Phelps’ four medals came in the 200-meter individual medley).

The 27-year-old Ledecky also became just the seventh athlete ever to win four gold medals in one event in Olympic history. She’s also the fifth American and the first woman to do so.

“The four times (record) is the one that means the most to me,” Ledecky said. “Aug. 3 is the day I won in 2012, and I didn’t want Aug. 3 to be a day I didn’t like, moving forward. Kinda felt like I put a lot of pressure on myself. So I’m happy I got the job done.”

Ledecky has medaled four times in Paris — gold in the 800-meter freestyle and 1,500-meter freestyle, silver in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay and bronze in the 400-meter freestyle — bringing her career medal count to 14, including nine golds.

Ledecky is now the most-decorated female swimmer and the fifth-most decorated athlete in Olympic history.

Related: Katie Ledecky Posts Three-Word Message Before Olympic History-Making 1500 Final

Related: NBC Sports Uses Hilarious Graphic To Illustrate Height Of Simone Biles Vault