Katie Ledecky has done it again.
The record-breaking American swimmer took gold in the women’s 800-meter freestyle—her fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event—on Saturday night. It marks the first time a woman has ever won four gold medals in the same event and brings Ledecky’s career total to nine Olympic gold medals, tying Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most all-time by a female Olympian. She also becomes the fifth-most decorated Olympic athlete of all time with 14 total medals.
“I didn’t want Aug. 3 to be a day I didn’t like moving forward,” Ledecky said, smiling. Asked how she knew this was the anniversary of the gold medal that changed her life, she said it’s a date that’s imprinted on her mind. “It’s almost like your birthday.”
“I definitely wouldn’t have pictured this in 2012, being able to come back Olympics after Olympics and be able to get the job done.”
Michael Phelps had been the only swimmer to win the same event at four straight Olympics, taking gold in the 200-individual medley at Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio de Janeiro.
“Given that Michael is the only one that’s ever done that, I think that just shows how difficult that is to do—and especially an 800,” Ledecky said. “It’s just a lot of miles year after year, trying to put in the work to make it happen.”
Titmus added some perspective to Ledecky’s consistency over the last dozen years, noting where she was when the American won that first gold in London.
