Katie Ledecky made history at the 2024 Paris Games by becoming the most decorated U.S. female Olympian after winning a silver medal in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay on Thursday.
Teaming up with swimmers Paige Madden, Claire Weinstein, and Erin Gemmell, Ledecky’s team secured second place behind Australia, with China coming in third.
The day before, Ledecky clinched her eighth career gold medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle, marking her 12th Olympic medal at that time.
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Ledecky set an Olympic record with a time of 15 minutes and 30.02 seconds, finishing over 10 seconds ahead of the silver and bronze medalists from France and Germany.
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The 1,500-meter race is Ledecky’s specialty, and she has maintained an unbeaten streak in that distance for over a decade. Her exuberant reaction after her victory reflected her joy in her performance.
Gender balance reached for the first time
The International Olympic Committee announced that the 2024 Games will see an equal representation of male and female athletes for the first time in history. With over 10,000 athletes invited to participate, there will be a total of 331 medal events, including 151 male events, 146 female events, and 20 mixed-gender competitions. New competitions in breakdancing, climbing, skateboarding, and surfing will also be featured.
