Katie Ledecky won a record-equalling career ninth gold medal at the Paris Olympics by claiming an unprecedented fourth women's 800 metres freestyle title on Saturday, while Team China added a relay silver to their collection.

The American great touched the wall in 8:11.04 at La Defense Arena, 1.25 seconds ahead of Australian silver medallist Ariarne Titmus.

Paige Madden took bronze for the United States.

Ledecky's ninth gold from four Games gives her a share of the all-time record for female Olympians with former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.

She also joined fellow American great Michael Phelps as the only swimmer to win four Olympic golds in the same event.

The United States won the mixed 4x100 metres medley relay gold with a world record time, as France's Leon Marchand suffered his first defeat in a final at the meet.

China took the silver and Australia the bronze. France, with four-gold hero Marchand swimming the second leg, finished fourth.

The winning time of three minutes 37.43 seconds smashed the record of 3:37.58 set by previous champions Britain at the 2021 Tokyo Games.

Earlier, Canada's Summer McIntosh won the women's 200 metres individual medley in an Olympic record time for her third swimming gold of the Games and fourth medal overall.

Kate Douglass of the United States won the silver and Australian Kaylee McKeown the bronze after US swimmer Alex Walsh was disqualified.

The gold completed a medley double for the 17-year-old McIntosh, who won the 400 IM last Monday. She also won the 200 butterfly on Thursday and took silver in the 400 freestyle on the opening Saturday. (Reuters)