3 swimmers with the most number of women's Olympic Records ft. Katie Ledecky, Emma Mckeon

The Paris Olympics are here, and the swimming events promise some interesting action. While veterans like Katie Ledecky are expected to be the familiar faces on the podium at the Games, the arrival of fresh talent like Gretchen Walsh and Summer McIntosh is bound to add some thrill into the mix.

As these swimmers prepare to race at La Défense Arena, Olympic and World Records will be in danger of being erased in the coming few days. With that, here's a look at the three swimmers who hold the most Olympic records in women's swimming.

#3. Tatjana Smith

Tatjana Smith holds two Olympic records (Image Source: Getty)

Tatjana Smith is the holder of two Olympic records, after her incredible performances in the 100 and 200m breaststroke races at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The 27-year-old came into the competition on the back of multiple record breaking performances, and continued that streak in Tokyo.

Early in the year, at the South African Time Trials competition in February, Smith reset the 100m breaststroke national record with a 1:05.89. She later bettered her own record at the South Africa National Swimming Championships. At that competition, she also set national records in the 50m and 200m breaststroke events.

At The Tokyo Olympics, Tatjana Smith got her campaign off to a strong start, clocking an Olympic record of 1:04.82 in the heats. This time would have been good enough to win her gold four years ago. She would later go on to clinch the 100m breaststroke silver at the Games.

Elsewhere, Smith first set the 200m breaststroke Olympic record in the preliminary heats. She later went on to stop the clock at 2:18.95 in the finals, setting a new world and Olympic record on her way to gold.

#2. Emma McKeon

Emma McKeon holds the second most Olympic records behind Katie Ledecky (Image Source: Getty)

Emma McKeon holds two individual and a couple of team Olympic records. The 30-year-old, who is Australia's most decorated Olympian, holds the individual records for 50 and 100m freestyle, and the team records for the 4x100m freestyle as well as the 4x100m medley relay.

Competing at the Tokyo Olympics, McKeon’s first record came in the 4x100m freestyle relay alongside teammates Bronte Campbell, Meg Harris, and Cate Campbell. Taking to the water in the finals, the quartet clocked a time of 3:29.69 to set a new Olympic, world, and Oceanic record.

A handful of days after this performance, McKeon went on to clock an Olympic record of 52.13 in the 100m freestyle heats. She later bettered her own OR with a time of 51.96 which won her gold.

From there, the Australian only got better in her 50m races. She set Olympic records each time she got in the pool, clocking a 24.02 in the heats, a 24.00 in the semifinals, and a 23.81 in the finals.

Emma McKeon rounded out her campaign in Tokyo with an Olympic record of 3:51.60 in the 4x100m medley relay alongside teammates Kaylee McKeown, Kelsee Hodges, and Cate Campbell. As well as being an Olympic record, this time stands as an Oceanic and national record to date.

#1. Katie Ledecky

Katie Ledecky holds three individual Olympic records (Image Source: Getty)

Katie Ledecky holds three individual Olympic records, the most by any woman. Her records come in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events, where she has proven herself to be one of the most dominant swimmers to have taken to the water.

The first of Katie Ledecky’s three Olympic records was the 400m freestyle, which came at the 2016 Rio Games. Competing as the defending World Champion in the event, she clocked a 3:56.46 in the finals storms to gold while scripting a new OR.

Five days after her stunning performance in the 400m free, Katie Ledecky lined up to race the finals of the 800m free, where she was the reigning World and Olympic champion. The American showcased an incredible performance, stopping the clock at 8:04.79 en route to gold. Not only did this time set a new Olympic record, it was also a new world record, one which still stands today.

Katie Ledecky's most recent Olympic record-breaking swim was in the 1500m race at the Tokyo Games The 27-year-old had withdrawn from the 1500m event at the 2019 World Championships due to illness, but remains a favorite for the win. Ledecky delivered on those expectations, clocking a 15:35.35 in the finals to win her first 1500m Olympic gold.