Katie Ledecky Makes History with 13th Medal as McIntosh and Douglass Shine
Katie Ledecky added another medal to her impressive collection, though it wasn’t the gold she had hoped for. On a night filled with remarkable performances, Ledecky secured her 13th career medal with a silver in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, making her the most decorated woman in swimming history.
Competing alongside her American teammates, Ledecky chased the formidable Australian squad, which included individual gold medalists Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus. Despite their best efforts, the U.S. team finished second, with Australia setting an Olympic record of 7:38.08.
“I’ve tried not to really think about it, just taking it one event at a time and know I have challenges in each of my events,” Ledecky remarked after the race, focusing on her upcoming 800 freestyle preliminaries. Ledecky now boasts a total of eight golds, four silvers, and one bronze across four Olympic Games, with eyes set on competing in Los Angeles 2028.
Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh continued her stellar performance with a commanding win in the 200 butterfly, leaving American Regan Smith with a silver. McIntosh, just 17, finished with an Olympic record of 2:03.03, further cementing her status as one of the games’ breakout stars. Smith touched in at 2:03.84, marking her fourth career silver, while China’s Zhang Yufei took bronze with a time of 2:05.09.
In another thrilling event, Kate Douglass claimed gold in the 200 breaststroke, taking the lead in the second lap and holding off South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker. Douglass, who previously won a bronze in the 200 individual medley at Tokyo, finished with a time of 2:19.24. Schoenmaker, who took gold in the 100 breaststroke, settled for silver in 2:19.60. The bronze went to Tes Schouten of the Netherlands, who clocked in at 2:21.05.
Douglass’ victory was a significant moment, especially as veteran American swimmer Lilly King, in her final Olympics, finished last in the 200 breaststroke final. King, a five-time Olympic medalist, embraced Douglass after the race, passing the torch to the next generation.
As the most dominant swimming nation, the U.S. now has four gold medals, ten silvers, and six bronzes in these games. Ledecky stands as the most decorated American woman in Olympic swimming, with only four athletes, including Michael Phelps, surpassing her overall medal count.
The Australian team’s success was spearheaded by O’Callaghan, who opened the relay with a strong lead, followed by consistent performances from Lani Pallister and Briana Throssell. Titmus, the anchor, ensured their victory with a commanding finish.
Other notable performances included Hubert Kós of Hungary winning gold in the 200 backstroke. Coached by the legendary Bob Bowman, Kós surged past Greece’s Apostolos Christou in the final lap, finishing in 1:54.26. Christou secured silver at 1:54.82, and Roman Mityukov of Switzerland took bronze with 1:54.85.
France’s Léon Marchand continued his gold medal streak, posting the fastest time in the semifinals of the men’s 200 individual medley with 1:56.31. He is poised to claim his fourth gold in the final, with American Carson Foster close behind at 1:56.37.
Caeleb Dressel, another American star, will defend his title in the 50 freestyle final. Dressel secured his spot with the fifth-fastest time of 21.58 in the semifinals, following a tense preliminary round where he tied for 13th. Britain’s Benjamin Proud and Australia’s Cameron McEvoy led the semifinals, both clocking in at 21.38.
As the Olympics continue, the swimming events are showcasing the blend of veteran prowess and emerging talent, promising more excitement and record-breaking performances.
