Katie Ledecky breaks Michael Phelps’ record for most individual world titles

Olympic champ Katie Ledecky on Saturday damaged Michael Phelps’ document for many specific globe swimming titles.

At the Globe Aquatic Championships in Fukoka, Japan, Ledecky gathered her 16th globe title by winning the 800-meter freestyle, her favored range, with a time of 8:08.87. It noted her 6th successive time winning that range– the lengthiest ever before touch in a solitary occasion in the champions’ background.

Ledecky had connected Phelps’ document on Tuesday when she won in the 1,500-meter freestyle– her 5th triumph because certain race.

“I know Michael, I know how many events he swam at meets like this,” Ledecky stated in a poolside meeting. “It’s an honor to even be in that same sentence.”

While she identified the magnanimity of defeating Phelps’ document, Ledecky steadly absorbed her record-breaking triumph, providing credit report to her rivals for pressing her to do at such a high degree.

“I’ve never even dreamt of even coming to meets like this, so to be here and to have been to a bunch of world championships is amazing,” Ledecky stated poolside. “It is always a battle, it is always a great race. So I know I have to bring my best every single time.”

The 26-year-old stated the 800-meter race is her favored since she has actually functioned the hardest at it throughout the years.

“It’s just the one that I hold closest to me given that the 1,500 was only added to the Olympics in 2021. I think it’s the one I’ve focused on the most,” she stated.

Ledecky defeated silver medallist Li Bingjie of China by nearly 4.5 secs. Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus was available in 3rd.

The Maryland local is one of the most embellished women swimmer of perpetuity with 6 specific Olympic gold medals along, with her 16 specific globe titles. The Globe Aquatics Championships are held every 2 years.

Ledecky started her Olympic profession at age 15, grabbing her very first gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle in the 2012 London Olympics.