NANTERRE, France — Katie Ledecky is now the most decorated woman in American Olympic history.
Ledecky earned a silver medal as part of the U.S. women’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay Thursday night at the Paris Games, giving her 13 Olympic medals throughout her illustrious career. Australia earned gold and China took bronze in the relay.
No other American woman has ever won more than 12. No other female swimmer of any nationality has won more than 12, either.
On Wednesday, Ledecky took gold in the women’s 1500-meter freestyle, her eighth Olympic gold medal and 12th overall, which tied her with Americans Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin.
“I try not to think about history very much,” Ledecky said Wednesday after tying them. “I know those names, those people that I’m up with. They’re swimmers that I looked up to when I first started swimming. It’s an honor to be named among them. I’m grateful to them for inspiring me and so many great swimmers over the years in the U.S. that have helped me get to this moment.”
Australian Emma McKeon, who is competing at these Games as well and added a gold medal to her tally in the Aussies’ 4×100-meter freestyle relay win, also has 12 overall medals and will likely have a chance for more in the medley relays.
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But Ledecky has one more event to go, too: The women’s 800-meter freestyle. She is the heavy favorite to win her fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in that event Saturday night.
With one more gold, Ledecky will tie Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals for any female Olympian in history.
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(Photo: Clive Rose / Getty Images)
