Broken records: Katie Ledecky claims 12th gold, dominates 1500 freestyle

PARIS -- Katie Ledecky claimed her 12th gold medal with an Olympic record in the 1500-meter freestyle on Wednesday, touching the wall in 15:30.02.

Ledecky's eighth gold medal ties the all-time record for female swimmers with American Jenny Thompson.

World record holder Ledecky blew away the field in the grueling, 30-lap race at La Defense Arena, touching the wall more than 10 seconds ahead of France's silver medalist Anastasiia Kirpichnikova. Germany's Isabel Gose took bronze.

Ledecky could have two more chances to medal in Paris as part of relay teams. Her 12 Olympic medals equal the all-time record of 12 in women's swimming shared by Thompson, Americans Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin, and Australian Emma McKeon.

--Reuters, Special to Field Level Media