Katie Ledecky Secures Silver and Expands Medal Count

Katie Ledecky solidified her status as the most decorated female Olympian from the United States and Leon Marchand of France continued to impress on a dynamic night of swimming at the Paris Olympics. Ledecky, competing in the women’s 4x200m relay, helped the USA team secure silver with a time of 7:40.86 at La Defense Arena. This achievement increases Katie Ledecky’s impressive tally to 13 Olympic medals, including eight golds, four silvers and one bronze.

The 27-year-old had already successfully defended her 1500m freestyle title and earned bronze in the 400m freestyle. She aims for another gold in the 800m freestyle on Saturday. Australia won gold in the 4x200m relay with a new Olympic record of 7:38.08 while China finished third with 7:42.34. Great Britain’s relay team including Freya Colbert, Abbie Wood, Freya Anderson and Lucy Hope, finished fifth with a time of 7:48.23.

French swimmer Leon Marchand qualified fastest for the 200m individual medley final, posting a time of 1:56.31. Marchand had a remarkable Wednesday, winning golds in the 200m butterfly and 200m backstroke, adding to his earlier 400m medley gold. In other events, Tom Dean qualified for the 200m individual medley final with a time of 1:56.92 while British teammate Duncan Scott was slightly faster with 1:56.49.

Ben Proud of Britain set the fastest time in the 50m freestyle with 21.38 seconds, aiming for his first Olympic gold. Honey Osrin and Katie Shanahan reached the women’s 200m backstroke final while Laura Stephens finished eighth in the 200m butterfly. Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh set an Olympic record in the 200m butterfly with a time of 2:03.03, claiming gold and her third medal of the Games.