Katie Ledecky (USA) in the women’s 800-meter freestyle preliminary heats during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Katie Ledecky completes historic four-peat

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Aug 3, 2024 4:05 PM ET

Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female Olympic swimmer in American history, became the first woman to win four consecutive gold medals in a single event when she won the women's 800m freestyle Saturday.

Michael Phelps was the only other American swimmer to win four straight golds in an event, which he accomplished between 2008 and 2016.

Ledecky, 27, led the race from start to finish — touching the wall over a second ahead of her next closest competitor.

WINNER AND STILL CHAMPION: KATIE LEDECKY.

HER FOURTH 800M FREE GOLD MEDAL IN A ROW. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/gWQ91NJ1vQ
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 3, 2024

Australia's Ariarne Titmus, who beat Ledecky in the women's 400 freestyle on July 27, took the silver, while Team USA's Paige Madden earned bronze.

The now 14-time Olympic medalist completed her record-breaking Paris program Saturday, winning two golds, one silver, and one bronze medal.

Ledecky's gold medal in the 800 freestyle ties her for the most all-time golds by a female Olympian.

The Los Angeles Games in 2028 are still a long way off, but Ledecky has expressed interest in returning to the Olympics when they are hosted on American soil in four years.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

More must-reads: