American superstar Katie Ledecky equalled the record for the most gold medals by a female Olympian as she won the 800m freestyle title at the Paris Games.

Ledecky clocked eight minutes 11.04 seconds to become the only woman - and only swimmer other than the great Michael Phelps - with four Olympic golds in the same event.

It was Ledecky's ninth Olympic gold, moving her level with former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, and taking her overall tally to 14 medals.

Phelps has the most medals of any Olympian with 28, including 23 golds.

"The four-times record is the one that means the most to me," Ledecky, 27, said afterwards.

"3 August is the day I won in 2012, and I didn't want 3 August to be a day I didn't like moving forwards.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself, so I'm happy I got the job done."

Earlier on Saturday, Summer McIntosh's astonishing debut Games continued, with the Canadian 17-year-old securing her third gold with victory in the women's 200m individual medley.

But Great Britain's 4x100m medley relay defence ended in disappointment, with the quartet finishing seventh. (BBC)