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.Â
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. Â
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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’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.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
