Katie Ledecky’s Next Big Splash: What to Expect at the Paris Olympics

PARIS, France — Katie Ledecky continues to etch her name in the annals of swimming history. The 27-year-old American has tied one of the sport’s most impressive records by accumulating 12 career Olympic medals. This feat was accomplished Wednesday night with a decisive victory in the 1,500-meter freestyle.

Ledecky’s latest achievement places her alongside three fellow American greats—Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin, and Jenny Thompson—each holding a record of 12 Olympic medals. At the Tokyo Games, she had already established the record for most individual golds by a female swimmer.

Her journey began in 2012 when she captured her first gold at the London Olympics at just 15 years old. Reflecting on her career, Ledecky remarked, “It’s not easy, it doesn’t get any easier, so I do try to enjoy it each year and there’s different perspective that I have different years and different challenges that you face each year.”

What’s next for Ledecky? She is expected to compete in the final of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay on Thursday. Historically, the U.S. clinched silver in this event at the Tokyo Games, but they secured gold in the two preceding Olympics. This race is likely to bring Ledecky her 13th career medal.

Ledecky is also on a mission to win her fourth consecutive gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle. The preliminaries are slated for Friday morning, followed by the final on Saturday evening.

After her recent win, she stated, “I have the relay tomorrow, that’s my next focus. Then, I’ll think about the 800.” To date, Ledecky has amassed eight gold medals, seven of which are from individual races.