The American Katie Ledecky won his ninth gold medal on Saturday swimming by winning the 800m freestyle final Paris 2024and equaled gymnast Larissa Latynina as the women with the most titles in the history of the Olympic Games.
Ledecky has a total of 14 Olympic medals and, at 27 years old, intends to continue competing until Los Angeles 2028.
The legendary swimmer caught up with Soviet swimmer Latynina with her fourth consecutive victory in the 800m freestyle event (also the first woman to achieve four consecutive victories in four different Games), with a time of 8 minutes and 11.04 seconds against the Australian figure. Ariarne Titmus (8:12.29) already the American Paige Madden (8:13.00).
Ledecky thus took revenge on Titmus, who beat her decisively in the 400m freestyle race held a week ago at the La Défense arena.
The American, who had settled for a bronze medal at the time, later confirmed that she had travelled to Paris not only to expand her extraordinary list of achievements but also to enter the Olympus of the greatest Olympic athletes.
Ledecky took gold in the 1,500m freestyle and is now in a position to break Latynina’s record of nine gold medals between 1956 and 1964.
Ahead of them, at a long distance, is only the great colossus of the pools, Michael Phelpswhich won 23 golds between 2004 and 2016.
The crowd at La Défense was thrilled by Ledecky’s feat and gave her a standing ovation when she confirmed her victory. Her fans also chanted “USA, USA” for a victory that brings the United States closer to leader Australia in the medal table in Paris.
The Oceanic team, however, is well positioned to inflict its first defeat on Team USA since 1988, adding 7 golds, 6 silvers and 2 bronzes for a record of 5-12-7 for the Americans with five finals left in Paris.
In other tests, the Canadian Summer McIntosh She won the 200-meter medley final and won her third individual gold in Paris, where she has emerged as a new star of this sport at the age of 17.
McIntosh also broke the Olympic record for the event with a time of 2 minutes 06.56 seconds, beating American Kate Douglass (2:06.92) in the final section (freestyle).
The Australian Kaylee McKeownchampion of the 100 and 200 m backstroke, took bronze with 2:08.08 after the disqualification of American Alex Walsh.
McIntosh adds this title to his 200m butterfly and 400m medley titles, as well as a silver in the 400m freestyle final.
Only French phenomenon Léon Marchand has won more individual gold medals in the La Défense swimming pool, with four.
In Saturday’s other final, Hungary’s Kristof Milak won gold in the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 49.90 seconds.
Source: Ambito
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