Katie Ledecky lay on her back in the Olympic pool, a look of pain etched on her face as she gasped for air. While the crowd roared from all sides of the arena, she took a moment to simply gaze at the ceiling, the cameras, the scaffolding, and the lights above. For Ledecky, the water has always represented both freedom and solace, allowing her to savor a brief moment of solitude.
Then, with the grace of a dolphin, she flipped upright, beamed at the audience, and flashed four fingers at her supporters. Until this moment, only Michael Phelps had ever claimed four golds in the same event. This journey began in London when she was just 15, expected to be overshadowed by Rebecca Adlington’s anticipated victory, but instead emerging as a powerhouse from Bethesda, Maryland, ready to dominate.
This victory marked her ninth individual Olympic gold, equaling the record held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. The heartfelt moment shared with Ariarne Titmus of Australia post-race highlighted the intense rivalry that had unfolded. This was Ledecky’s most competitive 800m final yet, with Titmus relentlessly pushing her, remaining within reach without quite stealing the win.
This scenario perfectly encapsulates the essence of their competition. Titmus, who set a new national record, shaved 1.5 seconds off her Tokyo time. Unfortunately for her, Ledecky did the same. Just when it seems you’ve got her cornered, she slips away, kicking and stroking as she eludes capture—much like trying to catch time itself.
It had been yet another thrilling night in the pool. Earlier, Kristof Milak captured gold for Hungary in the men’s 100m butterfly. The United States later set a world record to outswim China for gold in the mixed 4x100m medley relay, while the defending champions, Great Britain, finished in seventh place.
The exceptional Sarah Sjöström set a new Olympic record of 23.66 seconds in the women’s 50m freestyle semi-finals, marking the third-fastest time in history. Summer McIntosh cemented her third gold of these Games in the women’s 200m individual medley, thrillingly overtaking Kate Douglass in the final stretch.
And then it was time for the main event. Ledecky entered the water, hands perfectly aligned, entering as if she were part of it. She took the lead, setting the fastest turn, but Titmus stayed in contention. For the first several lengths, at a pace below world record, only feet separated them as they breathed toward each other, perceiving just how close they were while other swimmers seemed distant.
As the race progressed past 300 meters, the pace began to wane; however, Titmus was visibly exerting herself to keep up. At 550 meters, Ledecky began to pull away. By 650 meters, her lead extended to a second—a full body length. Titmus faced a brief threat from Paige Madden of the United States, who made a late surge for second place.
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Katie Ledecky powers through the water on her way to winning a fourth Olympic 800m gold in a row. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian
But as they approached the finish, Titmus surged forward—and unfortunately, so did Ledecky. In her memoir, Just Add Water, Ledecky recalls seeing a wire article from the 2016 Olympics that stated “Michael Phelps ties for silver in 100 fly,” with a footnote noting, “Ledecky sets world record in women’s 800 freestyle.” If Ledecky has left behind a legacy beyond her impressive medal count and record-breaking times, it’s her unwavering excellence that showcases female swimmers in a well-deserved spotlight.
However, her journey may not be over just yet. The next Olympics will occur in Los Angeles, where Ledecky often compares swimming to the concept of Hotel California: you can check out, but you can never truly leave. She will be 31 in 2028 and acutely aware that younger challengers are ready to step into the fray.
Earlier this year, McIntosh defeated her at a meet in Florida, marking Ledecky’s first loss in 13 years. If McIntosh had opted to compete in the distance event this time, it could have led to a showdown for the ages. Titmus, too, is likely to continue evolving and improving. For now, however, Ledecky holds her reign as the queen of the pool.
