WASHINGTON — The United States reached new heights after Tuesday's swimming events: 3,000 total Olympic medals.
Team USA is the first country to surpass the Olympic medal milestone, which tallies up both Summer and Winter Games.
Americans Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff helped break the barrier on Tuesday after winning silver and bronze, respectively, in the women's 100-meter backstroke. Atop the podium, Smith and Berkoff proudly held the 2999th and 3000th medal.
While it wasn't gold, Smith and Berkoff's win also marked 600th Olympic swimming medals in U.S. history.
Since Tuesday's event, the tally has surged even further - with some gold medals trickling into the overall count.
Katie Ledecky dominated the 1,500-meter freestyle at the Paris Games on Wednesday for her eighth Olympic gold medal and 12th medal overall.
Ledecky led right from the start and steadily pulled away, touching in an Olympic record 15:30.02 in an event that joined the women’s program at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
After starting the Paris Games with a bronze in the 400 freestyle, this result looked more familiar for Ledecky.
The U.S. won't have to worry about anyone clinching the title anytime soon no other nation has even half of 3,000 medals under their belt.
Ahead of the Paris Olympics, the U.S entered the Games with 2,975 medals from both Summer and Winter Games combined, according to the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage.
Team USA still has plenty of chances to add to its medal haul as the Paris Olympics continue. The closing ceremony is set for Aug. 11.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
