Katie Ledecky’s relentless march toward history begins with a bronze in Paris.

NY Times | July 27, 2024

Barring a shortage of chlorine in Paris, Katie Ledecky is likely to become the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history at some point over the next two weeks, a distinction that has been suffused the last decade with all the suspense of a rom-com.

An overhead view of Ariarne Titmus and Ledecky diving into the pool while being observed by race officials. Titmus, left, is in a green swimsuit and a yellow swim cap, while Ledecky is in a navy suit with a red and white gradient toward the bottom. She is wearing a black swim cap. — Credit...Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Ledecky churned ever closer to the zenith on Saturday, finishing third in the 400-meter freestyle, outpaced by Ariarne Titmus, 23, of Australia, below — who stunned her in the event in the Tokyo Games three years ago — and Summer McIntosh of Canada, a 17-year-old already competing in her second Olympics.