Ledecky Passes Phelps

US swimmer Katie Ledecky claimed her 16th individual gold medal at this month's World Aquatics Championships in Japan, surpassing US legend Michael Phelps' 15. She also won a record sixth gold in the same individual event—the 800-meter freestyle, where she owns the top 30 fastest times globally. The milestone comes 11 years after Ledecky's debut at the Olympics in London at age 15, where she won gold in the 800-meter freestyle (see bio). She has since won six more Olympic golds and 21 world golds, including team events, firmly establishing her as the winningest woman swimmer ever. She currently holds the world record in the women's 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle events. Only two others—Phelps and fellow American Ryan Lochte—have more total world medals than the 26-year-old Marylander. Elsewhere at worlds, Australian swimmer Mollie O'Callaghan became the first woman ever to sweep the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle events. See the tournament medal table here.