Katie Ledecky made history as the most decorated U.S. female Olympian after winning silver in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the 2024 Paris Games.
Her relay team, consisting of Paige Madden, Claire Weinstein, and Erin Gemmell, secured second place behind Australia, with China finishing in third.
Ledecky claimed her eighth career gold medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle event, bringing her total Olympic medal count to 12.
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Setting an Olympic record with a time of 15 minutes and 30.02 seconds, Ledecky outpaced the silver and bronze medalists from France and Germany by more than 10 seconds.
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Known for her dominance in the 1,500-meter race, Ledecky’s victory showcased her unparalleled skill in this distance event, where she has remained unbeaten for over a decade.
Gender balance reached for first time
The International Olympic Committee announced that the 2024 Games will feature equal participation of both male and female athletes, with over 10,000 competitors set to take part in this year’s Olympics.
With 331 medal events, including 151 male events, 146 female events, and 20 mixed-gender competitions, the Olympics offer a diverse range of opportunities for athletes to excel. Among the new events are breakdancing, climbing, skateboarding, and surfing.
