American star Katie Ledecky won her first gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday in the 1,500-meter freestyle, claiming a record-tying 12th Olympic medal in women’s swimming.
A huge favorite to win the event, Ledecky coasted to victory, touching the wall well ahead of her competitors. She finished the race in an Olympic record 15:30.02, topping her Olympic mark of 15:35.35 set in Tokyo.
The 27-year-old Ledecky finished more than 10 seconds ahead of Anastasiia Kirpichnikova of France, who won silver. Germany’s Isabel Gose took the bronze.
Ledecky now shares the record for most Olympic gold medals in women’s swimming with U.S. legend Jenny Thompson. Both Ledecky and Thompson now each have eight golds, three silvers and a bronze.
Americans Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin, and Australian Emma McKeon, have also won 12 total Olympic medals in women’s swimming.
Ledecky will continue her swim toward history as she competes in the 800-meter freestyle on Friday, and she’s expected to compete in the final of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay on Thursday.
Earlier Wednesday, Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström won the gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle, with American Torri Huske taking silver. Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey won the bronze, beating Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan by one-hundredth of a second.
Ledecky’s win comes just days after the U.S. men won a gold medal after a strong showing in the 4×100 meter freestyle relay.
On Saturday, Ledecky won bronze in the women’s 400-meter freestyle.
