Katie Ledecky won the women’s 1500m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Katie Ledecky took a step closer to history on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old shared the most individual gold medals at the World Swimming Championships with fellow American swimmer Michael Phelps when she won the women’s 1,500m freestyle in Fukuoka, Japan.
She sailed in true Ledecky fashion to her 15th title: her time of 15:26.27 was 17 seconds faster than Silver medalist Simona Quadarella. This brand sits third all-time behind two other Ledecky races – also holding a best 16 times at the event.
Ledecky will have a chance to break Phelps’ record in Saturday’s 800m freestyle final.
“I’m really enjoying swimming at the moment, especially my distance competitions. I just feel great,” Ledecky said, according to NBC. “I feel like I’m getting better with every swim. That’s what you like to see. You love to see improvement and that has been my biggest goal over the last few years.”
Overall, Ledecky has five world titles each in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter dash, four in the 400-meter dash and one in the 200-meter dash. She also has six individual Olympic gold medals. If you include her relays, Ledecky has 24 World Championship medals and 20 gold medals – Both are records for women but behind Phelps’ overall record of 33 medals and 26 golds.
Phelps also holds the world record for more Olympic gold medals at 23.