Katie Ledecky's First Loss At World Championships

BETHESDA, MD — She's so dominant in the pool, that it may be bigger news that Olympic and world championship gold medalist Katie Ledecky, 20, actually lost a race. The unthinkable happened Wednesday at the 2017 world championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The Bethesda native won four gold medals and one silver medal in swimming in the 2016 Rio Olympics and then headed off to college at Stanford in California. Ledecky tied for second in the 200 meter freestyle with Emma McKeon of Australia in a time of 1:55.18. Federica Pellegrini of Italy snagged the gold in 1:54.73.

The loss ended Ledecky's attempt to win six gold medals, reports Sports Illustrated. Missy Franklin won six gold medals at the 2013 world championships, the only female swimmer to reach that number. Wednesday's silver medal is also the first time that Ledecky has not won in 14 individual finals at a major international meet.

"I didn't really feel at the end that I had that extra gear that I normally have," Ledecky told ESPN after the race. "I didn't really see much for the last 50, so I was just trying to put together a good race."

Her schedule includes six freestyle events in distances from 100 meters as part of a relay to 1,500, which may have caught up with her, the Associated Press says. Ledecky's career 12 gold medals still leaves her as the winningest female swimmer overall; she trails only fellow Marylander Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte for the most victories in competition.

Photo of Katie Ledecky courtesy of USA Swimming