Katie Ledecky

Ledecky Wins 800m Freestyle, Becomes 1st Female Swimmer With 6 Olympic Golds

Ledecky led all the way in a race she hasn’t lost since 2010

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Katie Ledecky of Team United States reacts after winning gold in the Women's 800m Freestyle Final at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Al Bello/Getty Images

Katie Ledecky closed out her Tokyo Olympics with another gold medal.

Ledecky became the first female swimmer to capture six individual gold medals in her career with a victory in the 800-meter freestyle.

Ledecky led all the way in a race she hasn’t lost since 2010. But she was pushed hard by Australian rival Ariarne Titmus, who claimed the silver in 8:13.83.

The bronze went to Italy’s Simona Quadarella in 8:18.35.

"i'm so happy," she said immediately after the race. "I'm also in a lot of pain."

Ledecky finished the Tokyo Games with two golds, two silvers and a fifth-place finish in the 200 free. She lost her first two individual matchups with Titmus, but finally beat her in the 800.

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“That was not my last swim," Ledecky said after the race. "I’m at least going to '24, maybe to '28, we’ll see. I just knew it was my last swim here.”

Ledecky finished up with two golds, two silver and a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre — not as successful as she was five years ago in Rio de Janeiro, but not bad at all.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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