With 29 world records to his name, Michael Phelps, the ‘flying fish’ of swimming, remains unbeatable. But even after the ripples of Phelps’ retirement, one name continues to surge forward, carrying the torch of swimming excellence: Katie Ledecky. Last year, she stunned everyone at the World Aquatics Championships by not only breaking records but also surpassing Phelps’ individual gold medal count. Sure, Phelps has handed over a few of his records, but Ledecky?

She’s still holding strong in the 800 and 1500-meter freestyles. Her haul of six individual Olympic gold medals and 26 overall medals at the World Aquatics Championships stands as unprecedented achievements in women’s swimming. But is she faster than Phelps? Let’s dive into the debate!

Who is faster in swimming? Michael Phelps or Katie Ledecky?

According to Swimming World Magazine, in his prime, Michael Phelps dominated the 200-meter butterfly, while Katie Ledecky remains unstoppable in the 800-meter freestyle. The Baltimore Bullet started dominating this event in 2001 and held onto it until 2012, breaking his own world record multiple times along the way. When Phelps swam the 200 fly, it was like he was in a league of his own; everyone else was just trying to keep up.

Ledecky, on the other hand, has been ruling the 800-meter freestyle since she burst onto the scene in 2012. She held a 13-year unbeaten streak in the 800-meter freestyle until 17-year-old Summer McIntosh defeated Katie Ledecky in the 800-meter freestyle at the Southern Zone South Sectional Championships in February 2024. However, Katie Ledecky’s speed and endurance in the 800 free are unmatched, just like Phelps in the 200 fly.

To compare them, let’s look at the numbers. Phelps’ world record in the 200 fly is 1:51.51, while the second-fastest swimmer, Laszlo Cseh, is about 1.2 seconds behind. Now, in Ledecky’s territory, the 800 free, her world record is a staggering 8:04.79, set in Rio. The next fastest swimmer, Rebecca Adlington, is almost 10 seconds behind! That’s like a whole eternity in swimming terms.

So, when we talk about who’s faster, it’s not just about their times but also about how far ahead they are from their closest competition, and Ledecky’s dominance in the 800 free does show a significant dominance in her signature event. Reflecting on these blazing times, let’s revisit how Katie Ledecky left jaws dropping at the 2023 World Aquatic Championships, surpassing Phelps.

How she surpassed The Baltimore Bullet’s medal count

Katie Ledecky broke Michael Phelps’ record for the most individual gold medals at the World Championships by winning her 16th title in the women’s 800-meter freestyle event at the 2023 World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. In the 800-meter freestyle event, Ledecky’s winning time of 8:08.87 was not only enough to secure the gold medal but also surpassed the silver medalist by a significant margin of 4.44 seconds. With her victory in the 800-meter freestyle, Ledecky became the first swimmer to win six gold medals in the same event at the World Championships.

After her achievement, she opened up, sharing, “I really didn’t even know I was going to achieve that until people started telling me. It’s cool.“ Ledecky, trailing Phelps by 16 Olympic golds, needs just three gold medals to rank second among all Olympic athletes, surpassing gymnast Larisa Latynina, swimmer Mark Spitz, track and field athlete Carl Lewis, and long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi.

Achieving three more total medals would also make her the top female Olympic swimmer and second among all Olympic athletes. As she prepares to secure her place in Paris at the upcoming Olympic trials, will she accomplish this remarkable feat at the Paris Olympics? Share your thoughts in the comments below!