Katie Ledecky surpasses Michael Phelps with sixteenth particular person swimming world title

Katie Ledecky made historical past Saturday morning, breaking her tie with 28-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps by profitable a file sixteenth particular person swimming world title.

Ledecky, 26, secured the file in her signature 800-meter freestyle occasion, finishing the race in 8 minutes, 8.87 seconds to provide her the 29 quickest occasions in historical past — and proceed her undefeated stretch — since profitable her first Olympic title at 15 years outdated in 2012.

She additionally grew to become the primary swimmer to win any occasion six occasions at worlds.

“It was particular,” Ledecky said after the win on Peacock. “I’m pleased with that swim. I needed to be a bit bit higher [time-wise], however I’ll take it. I’m actually happy with how the week went.”

She concluded her occasions on the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan with two gold medals (800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle) and two silver medals (400-meter freestyle and 4×200-meter freestyle relay).

“It feels nice, I’m simply actually having fun with swimming proper now and particularly my distance occasions, I’ve simply been feeling nice,” Ledecky mentioned after profitable the 1500m — the race that tied Phelps’ mark — with a time of quarter-hour, 26.27 seconds.

Given her observe file with the 2024 Summer season Olympics approaching, Ledecky may hold shifting nearer to Phelps’ Olympic medals file, although it’ll be troublesome to surpass.

She presently holds 10 complete medals within the Olympics, inserting her two shy of second place in swimming behind Natalie Coughlin, Ryan Lochte, Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres.

Seven of Ledecky’s medals are gold, which can be two shy of second place in Olympic historical past behind Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, American swimmer Mark Spitz and runner Carl Lewis and Finnish distance runner Paavo Nurmi.

Phelps holds each data, and 23 of his 28 complete medals have been gold medals.

French swimmer Leon Marchand shattered Phelps’ long-standing 400 meters individual medley world record — the final one he held — earlier on the world championships.