Katie Ledecky surpasses Michael Phelps' record

NOW: Katie Ledecky surpasses Michael Phelps’ record

The seven-time Olympic gold winner Katie Ledecky pushes herself to success- and even that's not her personal best. 

Ledecky won gold at the 2023 World Aquatic Championships, in Fukuoka, Japan on July 29, consistently leading the pack lap after lap in the women's 1,500-meter freestyle. 

Ledecky is known for dominating the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle.

She hasn't lost one in over a decade.

She quickly started surpassing other swimmers by 25, 30, then 40 meters, suddenly swimming alone. 

She finished first, swimming the 1,500-meter at 15.26.27, surpassing silver by 17 seconds for her world title. 

At this point, Ledecky became the first person to win five gold medals in two different events, but she still had one more event to go, one she was favored to win, the women's 800-meter freestyle. 

During the event, Ledecky won the gold, completing her swim at 8.08.87, which was 4.44 seconds faster than the silver medalist. 

Ledecky became the first swimmer to win six golds at the same world's event, the 800-meter freestyle. 

This win allowed Ledecky to surpass the Wheaties man himself, Michael Phelps- not even realizing it. 

Phelps retired in 2016 after swimming at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. 

"It was special," she said after her win. "I really didn't even know I was gonna achieve that until people started telling me. It's cool. I'm happy with that swim. I wanted to be a little bit better, but I'll take it." 

No one else has won six gold medals in the same event. 

Her 800-meter freestyle gold medal was her sixteenth individual World Title, surpassing Michael Phelps' fifteen. 

This sweet sixteen milestone sets the record, making sports history, as Ledecky achieved something none before her have. 

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