"Got the job done for the 4-peat" - Katie Ledecky delighted after becoming first female swimmer to win four consecutive Olympic titles in single event

By Puneet Tripathi

Modified Aug 05, 2024 13:58 GMT

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Katie Ledecky has been in sublime form at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her gold medal in 800m women's freestyle swimming has helped her become the first female swimmer to win four consecutive gold medals in a single event at the quadrennial Games.

The American swimmer began her winning streak in the 800m freestyle as a fifteen-year-old at the 2012 London Olympics.

Twelve years later at Paris La Defense Arena, Ledecky has made history by winning the gold medal in the 800m race for the fourth time. The 14-time Olympic medalist recorded a blistering time of 8:04.79 at Rio 2016, setting the world and Olympic records. At the Paris Olympics, she finished her 800m freestyle race in 8:11.04, defeating Ariarne Titmus to bag the title.

“The four times one (record) is the one that means the most to me. August 3 is the day I won in 2012, and I didn’t want August 3 to be a day I didn’t like, moving forwards. Kind of felt like I put a lot of pressure on myself. So, I’m happy I got the job done," Ledecky said after winning the race.

Michael Phelps is the only swimmer in the world with more Olympic medals than Ledecky. Like her, he has also won four gold medals in the swimming events at four straight Olympic Games.

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"I'll give it everything I’ve got for as long as I have left in me" - Katie Ledecky determined to keep going

Katie Ledecky has participated in four Olympics to date. At the Paris Olympics, Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus ended the 800m freestyle race just 1.25 seconds behind her.

Katie Ledecky (L) & Ariarne Titmus (R) at the Paris Olympics 2024 (Image via Getty)

It was Ledeckey's ninth Olympic gold medal. After winning the race, she said about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games:

“I’d love to (compete in 2028), but it’s not easy, I’ll take it year by year, and give it everything I’ve got for as long as I have left in me.”

After their 800m race in Paris, Titmus congratulated Ledecky and the two exchanged a few words.

"I felt like I took it to her. I challenged her. I made it a great race and I gave it everything. She just had an extra bit in the legs at the end. She's an absolute champion. I know how hard it is to defend a title. It's so much harder to win it a second time, and to be on top for over 12 years is unbelievable," Titmus said.

"I said to her after the race, she's made me a better athlete, I totally respect what she has done in this sport, more than anyone else. She's been winning this race since I was 11 years old, and I turn 24 next month. That is just remarkable. She's unreal," she added.

Ledecky will be 31 in 2028, and it is highly anticipated that if she participates in the Los Angeles Olympics then she will face Titmus again.