Katie Ledecky: Swim Legend

All athletes always look up to other ones. No matter if you’re a beginner or a world record holder, everyone must have a role model. For me, I think that Katie Ledecky is the most resilient swimmer, and athlete, ever to compete.

Katie Ledecky was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Maryland. She started swimming at an age of six at a summer swim league. Eventually, she convinced her parents that she loved swimming and wanted to compete year-round. Her mother and father would spend time at her 5 A.M. practices and spend hours cheering her on.

In high school, she swam for the Nation’s Capital Swim Club, swimming 60 to 70 thousand yards per week, about 34 to 40 miles, all in nine workouts per week. This highlights how determined Ledecky was. When her high school career ended, she had the school record for every swimming event except the 100 Breaststroke.

All the hard work eventually paid off, with her qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. Even though Ledecky was the youngest at the meet, she made the Olympic team in the 800-meter Freestyle, showing that she was there to win.

Katie was not the favorite to win. By far. She was racing three swimming stars: Rebecca Adlington from Great Britain was the crowd’s favorite, defending champion, and world record holder. Lotte Friis of Denmark was Rebecca Adlington’s enemy for years. And, Mireia Belmonte from Spain was having the best meet of her life so far.

At the 100-meter mark, Katie Ledecky was even with the swimming veterans. After another 100 meters, she was ahead of everyone, including the world record, by two meters. Many inexperienced swimmers run out of stamina at the start and get fatigued. Surely Ledecky went too fast, right?

No. At the halfway point, Friis was the one who was struggling to keep up.

Ledecky finished first, just missing the world record by 0.31 seconds.

For the next few years, her diet was composed of world records.

Record,

After record,

After record,

After record.

And some more.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, she knew she would dominate the field in her signature long-distance events. So, she stepped down to the 200-meter freestyle to compare her abilities against legendary sprinters Sarah Sjöström, Emma McKeon, and Federica Pellegrini.

After 50 meters, she was 5th place, since she didn’t have a top speed as fast as the other sprinters. At the halfway mark, she secured second and then took the lead with only 50 meters to go.

Team U.S.A. captain Simone Manuel said, “When Katie swims, people expect something great.”

After so many victories behind her, she turned towards college. She started her freshman year at Stanford University and swam for the Cardinal swim team. In 2018, Ledecky turned pro, giving up her last 2 years of NCAA eligibility, while taking advantage of sponsorship deals.

So, how does Ledecky keep cool under all the pressure? Long story short, she’s very focused. Each year, Ledecky and her coach, Bruce Gemmel, set big goals.

Ledecky once said, “If your goals don’t scare you a little, then you’re doing it wrong.”

In 2013, Ledecky had her sights on a 3:56:00 time for the 400-meter Freestyle and an 8:05:00 time in the 800-meter Freestyle. She wrote those times on her swimming equipment. Even though her teammates had no idea what the numbers meant, they reminded her of what she was capable of and how much she still needs to improve. She also has the right mindset, always bouncing back from losses.

That is why I think Katie Ledecky is the most resilient athlete of all time.