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Katie Ledecky captures eighth gold medal, sets new Olympic record in women’s 1,500

Left to right, Silver medallist France’s Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, gold medallist US’ Katie Ledecky and bronze medallist Germany’s Isabel Gose stand on the podium of the women’s 1500m freestyle swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris, on July 31, 2024. (Tribune News Service)
By C.J. Holmes New York Daily News

It is usually a race for second place when Katie Ledecky is in the pool for the 1,500-meter freestyle. It’s her signature event.

The 27-year-old entered Wednesday’s race in Paris with 19 of the fastest times recorded in the 1,500 and had not suffered a loss in the event in more than 14 years.

Ledecky won five world titles and the first Olympic gold medal in the 1,500 at the Tokyo Games in 2021. She dominated her competition at the U.S. Olympic Trials. And after capturing a bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle on Saturday inside Paris La Défense Arena, Ledecky returned to the pool looking to claim her record-tying 12th Olympic medal.

Camera crews had to shoot the race with broader lenses because Ledecky’s competition could barely stay in frame. Ledecky won gold convincingly, as expected, clocking in at 15 minutes, 30.02 seconds. The mark is the eighth-fastest time in the 1,500.

France’s Anastasiia Kirpichnikova earned a silver medal at 15:40.35 and Germany’s Isabel Gose finished with a time of 15:41.16, earning a bronze medal.

“I’m proud of the time,” Ledecky said.

“I just really wanted to swim a time I could be proud of and happy with, and I kind of let my mind wander during the race, thinking of all the people that have trained with me, I was kind of saying their names in my head and thinking about them.”

Ledecky’s eighth Olympic gold medal ties Jenny Thompson for the most for an American woman. She is also tied with Thompson, Natalie Coughlin and Dara Torres with 12 total medals.

With two more medals in Paris, Ledecky can pass Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals of any female Olympian.

“I’m just so honored to represent our country and those women who have set the standard for so many years, who have inspired me – they inspired me when I first started swimming,” Ledecky said.

“So, thank you to them, thank you to everyone who has supported me all these years.”

Wednesday’s result was never in doubt.

Ledecky, who continues to add new chapters to her swimming career, can add more medals to her resume in the 800-meter freestyle and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay later this week.