Katie Ledecky already has seven Olympic gold medals in swimming. But she’s not done yet.
Ledecky, 27, could become the most decorated female Olympic swimmer of all time at the 2024 Paris Games as she competes in four different events: the 400-, 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle, and the 4×200 freestyle relay. With a total of 10 Olympic medals in the pool, Ledecky is just two behind the record held by Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin.
And if she can win three of those events, she’ll break former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina’s overall women’s record of nine Olympic golds.
First up is the women’s 400-meter freestyle.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports’ WhatsApp Channel
Did Katie Ledecky qualify for the 400 freestyle final?
In her qualifying heat, Ledecky won her heat with a time of 4:02:19 and will go for the gold in the event final later today.
Swimming alongside her top rival in the event, Australian Ariarne Titmus, Ledecky swam a consistent race as Titmus pulled out to an early lead. But Ledecky outkicked her over the final 50 meters to pull out the win by 0.1 seconds.
The USA’s Paige Madden also qualified for the final by swimming the sixth-fastest time in her heat.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
When is the women’s 400 freestyle final?
Katie Ledecky won’t have much time to relax before she swims for her first gold medal in Paris. The final of the women’s 400 freestyle will be held later today.
The top eight swimmers from the qualifying round will battle in the final, which is scheduled for 2:55 p.m. ET (8:55 p.m. in Paris).
Katie Ledecky 400 free results at the Olympics
2016 Rio de Janeiro: Gold (world record, 3:56:46)
2020 Tokyo: Silver (3:57:36)
