Australia win 4x200 freestyle, as Katie Ledecky makes Olympic history

With a total of 13 Olympic medals—comprising eight golds, four silvers, and one bronze—Ledecky surpasses fellow American swimmers Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin, and Australia's Emma McKeon in terms of total medals.

Alongside her esteemed compatriot Michael Phelps, Ledecky is one of only two swimmers to achieve 13 Olympic medals, although Phelps' remarkable total of 28 remains unmatched.

"It's truly incredible to be part of even a fraction of the journey she has undertaken," remarked Ledecky's teammate Erin Gemmell during a press conference.

"I believe participating in a relay is far more enjoyable than competing individually. We had an excellent experience out there tonight."

The Australian quartet, consisting of Mollie O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Brianna Throssell, and Ariarne Titmus, set an Olympic record with a time of seven minutes and 38.08 seconds at the La Defense Arena.

Jamie Perkins and Shayna Jack, who participated in the heats, also secured gold medals.

The United States finished 2.78 seconds behind, with Ledecky delivering a strong performance in the third leg, propelling her teammates Claire Weinstein, Paige Madden, and Erin Gemmell from third to second place.

An additional victory would have brought Ledecky's total to nine gold medals, equaling the record set by former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most golds by a female Olympian across all sports; however, this proved to be a challenging goal.

Ledecky still has the opportunity to achieve this in the women's 800 meters freestyle on Saturday, following her triumph in the 1,500 meters. The American, who made her Olympic debut in London 2012, holds the world record in both events.

Australia took the lead from the outset on Thursday night, with O'Callaghan swiftly navigating the pool before passing the baton to Pallister, who had recently recovered from COVID-19. Pallister maintained the lead for Throssell, ensuring Ledecky remained at a distance.

"This morning, we wore masks as a precaution. She (Pallister) has tested negative now, but accomplishing those two remarkable swims in one day is a testament to her strength," remarked Brianna Throssell.

"We aimed to support her while prioritizing our health and safety."

Titmus faced no threats as she secured her second gold and third medal of the Games.

"It was truly enjoyable. I feel a sense of redemption for us. Our performance in Tokyo was not what we desired, and I was personally dissatisfied with my relay performance there," Titmus stated.

In that race, Australia finished third, with China taking the victory and the United States in second place.

"I believe I have a significant role in this team and strive to perform to the best of my abilities. I am proud that they entrusted me to anchor the team and deliver the final result," Titmus added.

SportsLigue