Katie Ledecky at World Championships 2015: Events & Results

(Getty)

(Getty)

Katie Ledecky is no longer interested in sharing the spotlight.

Although the 18-year-old sensation won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and then four more at the 2013 World Championships, she has always taken a back seat to fellow Americans Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte or Missy Franklin.

Not anymore. Ledecky, who graduated high school in June, is absolutely tearing through the competition at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia. Take a look at her results thus far, as well as her upcoming events, as she attempts to join Phelps and Lochte as the only people to win four individual golds at a single World Championships.


Women’s 200m Freestyle: Gold

Ledecky (C) defeated two of the best 200m freestyle swimmers of all-time, Missy Franklin (L) and Federica Pellegrini. (Getty)

Ledecky (C) defeated two of the best 200m freestyle swimmers of all-time, Missy Franklin (L) and Federica Pellegrini. (Getty)

Ledecky, who normally swims longer distances, didn’t participate in the 200m freestyle at the 2013 World Championships, and she didn’t win her first major medal in the event until the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships.

“This one was the least expected,” she said. “I knew this would be the toughest race.”

Of course, the way she won this gold was as impressive as it was unexpected. In the semifinals, which began about 30 minutes after the incredibly daunting 1500m freestyle final, she willed her way to fifth. In the final, she shaved 0.6 seconds off her time to beat world-record holder Federica Pellegrina and defending world champion Missy Franklin for the gold.

“Katie’s just an inspiration to everyone,” said Franklin. “What she does is incredible, and it’s never been done before.”


Women’s 400m Freestyle: Gold

(Getty)

(Getty)

Ledecky didn’t quite match her world-record time she set last August, but it really didn’t matter. With a time of 3:59.13 in the final, she obliterated the competition, topping silver medalist Sharon Van Rouwendaal by nearly four seconds.

“I can’t complain about that,” she said. “You always want to improve and go best times and things like that, but it gives me things to work on in the future.”


Women’s 1500m Freestyle: Gold

What to do to keep fans entertained when you’re the clear favorite and already own the world record? Break your own world record, and then break it again.

Ledecky did exactly that, clocking a blazing time of 15:27.51 in the prelims before topping that in the final with a 15:25.48. No one came close, as Lauren Boyle touched the wall nearly 15 seconds later for silver.

Complete and utter dominance.


Women’s 4X200m Freestyle Relay: Gold

Ledecky (L) and Missy Franklin will join forces for the women's 4X200m freestyle relay. (Getty)

Ledecky (L) and Missy Franklin will join forces for the women’s 4X200m freestyle relay. (Getty)

Another race, another gold for the most dominant swimmer on the planet.

Ledecky anchored the United States’ 4X200m freestyle team to a win over Italy and China. She started the final leg of the relay just behind the leader but after a split of 1:55.64, the Americans had won by just over three seconds. Missy Franklin swam the opening leg, winning her 10th career Worlds gold.

This is the third major gold for Ledecky in this race. She was also part of the United States’ wins at both the 2013 World Championships and 2014 Pan Pacific Championships.


Women’s 800m Freestyle: August 7 & 8

As a 15-year-old, Ledecky won gold in the women's 800m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics. (Getty)

As a 15-year-old, Ledecky won gold in the women’s 800m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics. (Getty)

Prelims: August 7 at 4:17 a.m. ET; Final: August 8 at 11:55 a.m. ET

This is the third event in which Ledecky holds the world record, and it’s the one race she took gold in at the 2012 Summer Games, so it would come as a major surprise if she doesn’t win here. And if she does come out victorious, she’ll become the first woman swimmer to ever win four individual golds at a single World Championships. The only men to accomplish that feat are Phelps and Lochte.

It will be interesting to see if she can break her own world record of 8:11.00. Her 800m split during the 1500m final wasn’t far off that pace at 8:13.25, so she should be able to come close.

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