All eyes and applause have fallen on the majestic feats of Simone Biles, the magical creator of worlds in the world of gymnastics, and it is no wonder.
The little genius has overcome all the trials in a redemptive crusade that faded away after the “twisties” caused her so much pain in Tokyo. This time, she has accepted the challenge of reasserting her authority as the greatest of her time.
Much less has been said about another American superstar of these Games: poolside tadpole Katie Ledecky.
At 27 and hailing from Washington DC, she is the greatest female swimmer in history, a pre-eminence she has underlined with her exploits over the past week at La Defense Arena, that vast, effervescent venue illuminated not only by her but by the exploits of French favourite Léon Marchand, the multi-gold medal-winning star who has emerged as the standout figure of Paris 2024.
But when it comes to reliable longevity, no one can beat Ledecky, who on Saturday night in the 800-meter freestyle won her 14th Olympic medal and ninth gold, a crown that only added to her glory.
American swimming superstar Katie Ledecky won her ninth Olympic gold on Saturday night
Ledecky triumphed in the 800m freestyle to claim her 14th career Olympic medal
She is the most decorated American Olympian of all time – the first woman to win gold medals at four Games – although she had to settle for silver on Thursday night when Australia won the 4x200m freestyle relay.
This was her 13th medal, one more than her compatriots Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin, and Australia’s Emma McKeon.
Ledecky’s first award came as a 15-year-old “phenomenon” at London 2012, with gold in the 800m freestyle. She had set a milestone.
Since then, consistency has been her hallmark, especially over brutally long distances that suit her level of endurance and ability to overcome the pain barrier. She has since won gold in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events.
And on Wednesday, displaying his brilliance, he broke his own Olympic record in the 1,500 metres, going from 15 minutes 37.34 to 15 hours 30.02, a reduction of seven seconds in a Parisian pool that has become famous for its slowness. The pool is too shallow to produce records in abundance.
The humble heroine is now the most decorated American female Olympian in any profession.
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In the swimming pantheon, only Michael Phelps, a 28-time Olympic medalist, surpasses her. Ledecky, the second-best swimmer in any category, stands out for her consistency. A comparison that stands up to scrutiny in all sports.
Biles, as we’ve said, has had her share of downfalls and ups, and she withdrew from the preliminary team gymnastics events and most other events three years ago. As did the superb American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, who failed to qualify in either the slalom or giant slalom at the Beijing Winter Olympics two years ago.
Part of Ledecky’s magic may lie in the enjoyment she still derives from her sport.
Swimming can be a soul-destroying endeavor, but it can also be life-enhancing. You stare at a black line below you (or, for backstrokers, on the ceiling) day after day. Many who dazzle as youngsters retire from competition before they reach old age. But Ledecky has never seemed to waver in her commitment.
After winning bronze in the 400m freestyle here, Ledecky had tears in her eyes as she said: “I love this sport so much that I get emotional.”
Phelps retired at 31, the age Ledecky will be when the Games are held in Los Angeles in 2028. There’s no reason to think she won’t be around until then, and possibly as the force she is today.
Part of Ledecky’s magic may lie in the enjoyment she still derives from her brutal sport.
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“He doesn’t have particularly big feet or hands, which is what you really need to push a huge mass of water,” said Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic champion and now an NBC analyst.
At 6 feet 11 inches tall, Ledecky “is shorter than some great swimmers and has a subpar kick,” Gaines added. “But once she gets her hand out in front of her, she’s able to propel her body better than anyone. She can go from zero to 60 mph very quickly.”
Added to that technical skill is her total dedication to training. It is said that she leaves nothing in reserve as she prepares for glory. There is also the versatility that has made her a serial winner, from 200m to 1500m. Her cadence is quicker at the shorter distances, but it is essentially the same effective technique.
“When he breathes,” Gaines said, “his head doesn’t move much.”
Ledecky, a psychology graduate from Stanford, is of Irish descent on her mother’s side and says Hail Marys before swimming. Before Saturday night, her gold in the 1,500m was added to silver in the 4x200m and bronze in the 400m freestyle.
Ledecky’s story continues to bear fruit.
