MoCo native Katie Ledecky’s gold medal in the women‘s 800m has given her the most career individual swimming world titles of all time, with 16 overall. She has surpassed fellow Marylander Michael Phelps, who previously held the record with 15.
Ledecky won the 800m freestyle race on Saturday with a time of 8 minutes and 8.87 seconds. She now holds the 29 fastest times in history in the event and also became the first swimmer to win any event six times at worlds. She has never lost since winning her first 800m back in 2012 when she was just 12 years old. Ledecky finished the world championships in took gold in the 800m and 1500m frees along with two silvers.
Ledecky was raised in Bethesda, where she attended Little Flower School through eighth grade and later attended high school at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, where she graduated in 2015
.@katieledecky's gold medal in the women’s 800m gives her the most career individual swimming world titles of all time! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/EHlRywFbU7
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 29, 2023