How good is Katie Ledecky? Records and achievements of Team USA’s star swimmer
Katie Ledecky is the best woman to ever compete in swimming. That’s the long and short of it, but what are her records, and does she still hold them?
If there is one athlete that Team USA can count on as they go on the hunt for more medals, it’s got to be Katie Ledecky, and by the looks of things the 27-year-old has still got a lot more to offer, something that suggests Paris won’t be the end.
What has Katie Ledecky achieved?
Assuming Katie Ledecky is able to get the better of the field in her first medal event of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, she will claim a record-tying 12th medal in women’s swimming. If she can win two medals in France she will take sole possession of the record for most medals, a feat that would truly confirm what most already accept: Katie Ledecky is as good as it gets.
Yet, aside from the record of total medals, it should be said that Ledecky has essentially been the standard bearer when it comes to excellence for more than a decade, and in a sport that can be unforgiving to boot. Indeed, the 27-year-old’s has continued to go from strength to strength with her times in swimming events consistently breaking records, while setting new ones that will likely stand for many years to come. To that end, you can take a look below to see all of the records she has ever held.
| Event | Katie Ledecky’s world record time | Date record was set | Record held since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800m freestyle | 8:04.79 | August 12th, 2016 | August 3rd, 2023 | Still holds record |
| 1500m freestyle | 15:20.48 | May 16th, 2018 | July 30th, 2013 | Still holds record |
| 400m freestyle | 3:56.46 | August 7th, 2016 | Broken on May 22nd, 2022 | Lost record |
Incredibly, Ledecky has bested her own PR for the 800-meter freestyle on no less than four occasions. There is also her 1500-meter freestyle record which she has broken five times and of course, her 400-meter freestyle time which she bettered twice before finally conceding the record. That said, it should be noted that Ledecky still holds the record for the fastest time ever at an Olympic Games in that event. On a side note, she also retains several of the fastest times in events that were held in the United States where they are measured in yards. Truly, Katie Ledecky is that good.