Updated Jul 27, 2024 - World

Katie Ledecky earns bronze in first event at Paris Olympic Games

Ina Fried

Katie Ledecky swims at Paris Olympics — Swimmer Katie Ledecky in the women's 400m freestyle heats at the Paris Olympics on July 27, 2024 in Nanterre, France. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

American swimming great Katie Ledecky finished behind Australian rival Ariarne Titmus and Canada's Summer McIntosh, capturing the bronze medal in the women's 400 meter freestyle swimming final on Saturday.

Why it matters: The match had been a highly anticipated one between Ledecky, the Olympic record holder and Titmus, the world record holder.

Titmus led throughout the race, at times tracking at a world record pace, while Ledecky found herself chasing McIntosh, in addition to Titmus, ultimately finishing more than three second behind the winner.
Australia also captured gold in the women's 4x100 freestyle relay — in Olympic record time — with the U.S. team finishing second, followed by China in third.
Meanwhile, the U.S. men's 4x100 freestyle team captured America's first gold medal of the Paris Games, topping Australia in the final event of Saturday's competition. Italy finished in bronze medal position.

What's next: Ledecky swims next in the preliminaries of the 1500 meter freestyle on Tuesday, an event in which she holds both the Olympic and world records.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with the latest.

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Katie Ledecky earns bronze in first event at Paris Olympic Games

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