Katie Ledecky Matches Michael Phelps Record With Dominant World Championships Win

The swimmer bested her competition by over 17 seconds.

It might not be an Olympic year, but that hasn’t stopped American swimming great Katie Ledecky from making history.

Ledecky dusted the field in the 1500-meter freestyle, winning by 17.04 seconds to claim gold in the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. The victory was her 15th overall, tying Michael Phelps for the most individual world championship golds all-time.

Coming on the heels of gold medals in the event in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2022, the triumph marked Ledecky’s fifth triumph in the 1500-meter freestyle. She is the only individual to win the world championship in two different events five times, having also won the 800-meter freestyle in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022.

THAT'S KATIE LEDECKY!@katieledecky is the first person to win five world titles in two different events AND she ties Michael Phelps for the most individual world golds in swimming (15).

And she won this 1500m free world title by 17 seconds. 🤯 #AQUAFukuoka23 pic.twitter.com/y6WeHj99IJ

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 25, 2023

Ledecky will bid for her record-breaking 16th individual first-place finish in the 800-meter freestyle, to be held Friday and Saturday at Marine Messe Fukuoka. In addition to her world championship successes, she has also won seven gold and three silver medals in the Olympic Games.