Katie Ledecky's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Katie Ledecky. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Katie Ledecky is an American competitive swimmer, widely considered the greatest female swimmer of all time. She holds numerous world records and is a dominant force in freestyle events. Ledecky has amassed an impressive collection of nine Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals, making her the most decorated female swimmer in history. She also holds records for most individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships and most overall medals at the World Aquatics Championships in women's swimming. Her achievements solidify her status as one of the greatest Olympians ever.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1989: Evans' American Record Broken

In 2012, during Ledecky's gold medal win, she broke Janet Evans' American record of 8:16.22, which had stood since 1989.

2003: Hannah Stockbauer Comparison

In 2013, with her wins in the 400 through 1500-meter titles, Ledecky became the second woman to win these events at a World Championship since Hannah Stockbauer in 2003.

2008: Adlington's World Record Mention

In 2012, during Ledecky's gold medal win in the 800-meter freestyle, it was noted that she narrowly missed Rebecca Adlington's world record of 8:14.10 set in 2008.

2009: Pellegrini's World Record Broken

In 2014, Ledecky broke Federica Pellegrini's 2009 world record in the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 3:58.86.

2012: London Olympic Gold

In 2012, at the London Olympic Games, a 15-year-old Ledecky made her international debut and unexpectedly won gold in the 800-meter freestyle.

2012: Olympic Trials and Qualification

In 2012, at the United States Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska, Ledecky made the Olympic team by winning the 800-meter freestyle and achieving other notable results, marking her first senior national competition.

2013: Swimmer of the Year Awards

At the end of 2013, Ledecky was named the American Swimmer of the Year and the World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine, and the best female swimmer by FINA Aquatics World magazine, recognizing her outstanding achievements.

2013: USOC Athlete of the Year

In 2013, Ledecky was named United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year.

2013: US National Championships Success

In 2013, at the US National Championships, Ledecky qualified for multiple events at the World Aquatics Championships and achieved first-place finishes in the 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle.

2013: World Championships Gold Medals

In 2013, at the World Championships, Ledecky won gold in the 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, setting two world records.

2014: L'Équipe Champion of Champions

In 2014, Ledecky was named international female Champion of Champions by L'Équipe.

2014: Pan Pacific Championships Dominance

In 2014, at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Ledecky won five gold medals and broke two world records in the 400- and 1500-meter freestyles, becoming the first woman to win four individual gold medals at a single Pan Pacific Championship.

2014: US National Championships Success and World Record

In 2014, at the US National Championships, Ledecky finished first in the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle, and set a world record in the 400-meter freestyle.

2014: World Records at Woodlands Invitational

In June 2014, Ledecky broke her own world records in the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle at the Woodlands Swim Team Senior Invitational.

2014: World Record Set Before 2016 Olympics

Prior to her first individual event at the 2016 Summer Olympics, the text mentions that Ledecky already held a previous world record in the 400m freestyle from 2014.

2015: Qualifying meet mention

In 2014, the US National Championships was the qualifying meet for the 2015 World Aquatics Championships.

2015: World Aquatics Championships Success

In 2015, at the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, Ledecky won five gold medals and broke three world records. She became the first swimmer to win the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyles in a major competition and was named the female swimmer of the meet.

November 2016: American and U.S. Open Records Lowered

In November 2016, at the Ohio State Invitational, Ledecky lowered her American and U.S. Open marks in the women's 500-yard freestyle and 1650-yard freestyle.

2016: NCAA Records Set

During the 2016-17 NCAA season, Ledecky set 12 NCAA records and nine American records while swimming as a freshman for Stanford University.

2016: USOC Athlete of the Year

In 2016, Ledecky was named United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year.

2016: Arena Pro Swim Series World Record

In 2016, at the Arena Pro Swim Series at Austin, Ledecky reset her world record in the 800-meter freestyle, clocking a time of 8:06.68.

2016: Rio Olympics Success

In 2016, at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, Ledecky emerged as the most decorated female athlete, winning four gold medals, one silver medal, and setting two world records.

2016: Silver Medal in 4x100-meter Freestyle Relay

In 2016, at the Summer Olympics, Ledecky won a silver medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, swimming the anchor leg for the United States in both the prelims and final.

2017: Awards and Honors in 2017

In 2017, Ledecky was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, international female Champion of Champions by L'Équipe, United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year, and Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation.

2020: Tokyo Olympics Dominance

In 2020, at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Ledecky became the most decorated U.S. female athlete and the first American female swimmer to win an individual event in three straight Olympiads.

2022: Awards and Honors in 2022

In 2022, Ledecky was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and ESPY Best Female Athlete.

2023: World Championship Gold

In 2023, Ledecky won gold in the 800 meter World Championship, becoming the first swimmer to win six World Championship gold medals in the same event.