katie-ledecky-swim.jpg
Getty Images

United States swimmer Katie Ledecky continues to add to her historic resume in the pool. Ledecky easily earned the gold medal in the 1500-meter freestyle final with a time of 15:30.02 on Wednesday. The time also set a new Olympic record, which Ledecky also set at the 2020 Tokyo Games. 

It marks the eighth Olympic gold medal of Ledecky's career. She ties Jenny Thompson for the most gold medals by an American woman as well as tying Thompson, Natalie Coughlin and Dara Torres for the most Olympics medals by a female swimmer at 12.

"I kind of let my mind wander during the race, thinking of all the people that have trained with me, just kind of saying their names in my head and thinking of them," Ledecky said on NBC after the race.

Prior to Wednesday's final, Ledecky won her qualifying heat in the 1500-meter freestyle event with a final time of 15:47.43. The American swimmer finished a mind-boggling 17.83 seconds ahead of her competition in order to win her heat.

Ledecky now has secured eight Olympic gold medals and 12 overall. She also holds the world record in the women's 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle events in addition to being the record holder in the women's 400-meter freestyle.

Ledecky will have a chance to break the record for most medals by a female swimmer later this week when she competes in the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay on Thursday and the women's 800-meter freestyle on Friday. The 27-year old also took home a gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle event in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.