Theres a decades worth of underwater video too. She keeps logbooks chronicling most of her practices dating to 2011. Ledecky almost broke the world record in the 800-meter freestyle, finishing with a time of 8:11.35. But she was always bouncing up and down, really bouncy in the water and I think you can swim better than that.. Trust me. She has no long torso, no wide wingspan . No. At just 19 years old, Katie Ledecky is the most dominant swimmer in the world. Shes just doing it better than everybody else., Bruce Gemmell, Katie Ledeckys coach at the Nations Capital Swim Club, Some of this immunity to pressure comes from her knack to set goals, internalize them, then turn them into reality. She doesnt have an unusually long torso or long arms or large hands. She met both. [30] In addition, she broke Janet Evans' American record of 8:16.22 that had stood since 1989. He can count on one hand the number of times she was floored by a workout. Katie Ledecky competes in the womens 1500-meter freestyle during the U.S. Olympic swim trials on June 16 in Omaha, Neb. She has won seven Olympic gold medals and 19 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer. She wasnt a great kicker. [136], On the first day of competition, Ledecky won the 400-meter freestyle in a championship record 3:58.15, besting Canadian silver medalist Summer McIntosh by 1.24 seconds. 578k Followers, 883 Following, 422 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky) katieledecky. [124][125] In the same prelims session as the 1500 meter freestyle, Ledecky ranked first in the 200 meter freestyle with a time of 1:55.28 and advanced to the event's semifinals. This is a completely different kind of race, 30 laps of endurance that is part of the womens Olympic program in Tokyo for the first time. [24] In Omaha, Ledecky also placed third in the 400-meter freestyle (4:05.00) and ninth in the 200-meter freestyle (1:58.66). They cant quantify this, but believe she hangs onto more water than other swimmers. Ve svtovm baznu d nctilet kometa s eskmi koeny", "New York City City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995", "The code to Katie Ledecky's goals in Rio", "Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky says her Catholic faith helps her 'put things in perspective', U.S. Olympic swimming trials: Katie Ledecky, 15, earns surprising berth, Katie Ledecky finishes high school career with Olympics, more world records in sight, Katie Ledecky commits to Stanford swimming, "Photo ReleaseHuntington Ingalls Industries Celebrates Ceremonial Steel-Cut for Aircraft Carrier Enterprise (CVN 80) at Newport News Shipbuilding", "Katie Ledecky couldn't pursue Olympic medals in 2020. Still recovering from illness, Ledecky qualified second the next day for the final of the 800-meter freestyle. She is the daughter of David Ledecky and Mary Gen Ledecky. 883 following. A week after she obliterated the 1500m short-course record, Katie Ledecky broke another - this time in the 800m as she stormed to victory at the FINA World Cup in Indianapolis.. She is Unmarried. The next morning, Ledecky struggled through her preliminary heat of the 1500-meter freestyle despite qualifying first for the event's final. Shes kind of a freak athlete. Katie Grimes, who at 15 finished second in the 1,500-meter freestyle during the swim trials, said, "Maybe I can be just like Katie [Ledecky] one day," after her trials performance. Before she entered the pool, the United States was trailing both Australia and China, but she swam a time of 1:53.76 to finish the race 0.4 seconds behind the Chinese swimmer Li Bingjie and ahead of Australia, who were the favorites coming into the competition. Sports, however, bring a desire for answers, for numbers, for specifics, especially for someone whose accomplishments almost have become disorienting. When Bruce Gemmell took over as Ledeckys coach at the Nations Capital Swim Club in late 2012, his young charge had an Olympic gold medal, but couldnt do a pullup. [55], Ledecky claimed her third gold in the 4200-meter freestyle relay, with Allison Schmitt, Leah Smith, and Maya DiRado. A post shared by Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky). Her wins came in the 200-, 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyles and the 4200-meter freestyle. Relief seemed to be the main emotion that sunk into Katie Ledecky's face as she touched the wall to claim her first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics.. Ledecky's victory in the 1500m freestyle . When Titmus first turned up to training with Boxall she was 16 seconds off Ledecky in the 400m, but slowly started to chip away and after a year she had halved the gap. She won a fourth gold in her final individual event, the 800-meter freestyle. "She's relatively short (at 5-foot-11) and she doesn't have an excessive wingspan." Nevertheless, Ledecky's arms are long enough to wrap around what could. In the 400-meter freestyle, Ledecky set her third world record of the year by breaking Federica Pellegrini's 2009 world record of 3:59.15 with a time of 3:58.86. Its a mindset that different to go out as fast as you can without being blatantly reckless.. Ledecky was a USA Olympic team member in 2012, 2016, and 2020, and holds the female record for most individual gold medals (14) and overall gold medals (19) at the World Aquatics Championships. Follow. At the 2017 US National Championships, the qualifying meet for the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, Ledecky won the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle and earned a spot on six events. Notably, in the semifinals the day prior, Ledecky recorded the top time in the semifinals with a time of 1:54.69. [126] She swam a 1:55.34 in the semifinals of the 200 meter freestyle and advanced to the final ranking third overall. In her first event in Barcelona, the 400-meter freestyle, Ledecky became a world champion for the first time by winning in 3:59.82, setting a new American record and becoming the second-fastest performer of all time in the event.[31]. The swim was the fifth-fastest in history and earned Ledecky the 28 fastest times in the distance. [85] She finished third in the Associated Press's Female Athlete of the Decade voting, behind Serena Williams and Simone Biles. Verified. If any single item is responsible for her transformation, the grueling sessions away from television cameras and autograph-seeking fans might be it. Katie Ledecky reacts after competing in the womens 800-meter freestyle final during the U.S. Olympic trials at CHI Health Center on June 19 in Omaha, Neb. Her strength-to-body mass ratio is probably in the top 98%.. She has recognition of these things in the middle of a race and can make an adjustment. But she acknowledged having the same nerves as any other competitor at the trials and, in all sincerity, said she didnt take making the Tokyo Games for granted. Ledecky breaking an arm in fourth grade, but jumping back into the pool with a cast. Huske won the race and set an American record in the event. Rio Olympics: Katie Ledecky dominating in run-up to Games View Photos Bethesda teen will swim four events in Rio. In the 1650-yard freestyle, Ledecky re-set her NCAA record in the 1000-yard free with a split of 9:05.89 en route to winning by more than 28 seconds. Theres a lot of noise, said Janet Evans, the four-time Olympic gold medalist who is considered one of the greatest distance swimmers in history and now works as the chief athlete officer for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Committee. Ledecky made her debut as a professional swimmer on May 16, 2018, at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she beat her old world record in the 1500-meter freestyle, setting a new world record of 15:20.48. Is she tall for an elite swimmer? Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky (born March 17, 1997) is an American competitive swimmer. Ledecky won freestyle golds as a 16-year-old in the 2013 World Championships in the 400m, 800m, 1,500m and the 4x200m, following her first place in the 800m in London 2012. [127][128] In the finals of these two events, Ledecky failed to reach the podium for the 200 m freestyle, placing 5th behind Titmus, Haughey, Oleksiak, and Yang, but placed 1st in the 1500 m race, leading teammate Erica Sullivan (silver) by 4 seconds, clinching her first gold medal of the Games. An iron will? Is she tall for the average person? At year's end, Ledecky was named the World Swimmer of the Year and American Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine. 3x U.S. Olympic Swimmer (2012, 2016, 2021) 7x Olympic Gold Medalist 19x World Champion Stanford grad #TeamTYR - Katie@teamwass.com. The team lowered its previous record with a time of 3:07.61, securing a 526.5366 decision over runner-up California-Berkeley, the largest championship margin of victory since 2003. In the final, Ledecky went out hard and, by the 200-meter mark, she had already established an almost body-length lead. [68] Later that evening, Ledecky swam the third leg of the 4100-meter freestyle. This is something really, really special.. [140], On October 28, during the Toronto round of the FINA Swimming World Cup, Ledecky swam the 1500m short course event for the first time. One key is obsessive attention to detail. Swimming the anchor leg, Ledecky erased a 1.2-second deficit going into the final leg of the race, passing Australia's Melanie Schlanger with a 1:54.36 split over the final 200 meters. Sometimes she faded. The history-making has become so common, so many would-be competitors left so far behind, that expectations, just like the pictures, are larger than life. May 4, 2020, 8:23 p.m. Five days after she turned 23, Katie Ledecky '20 . [57] Ledecky's final medal total (four golds, one silver) is the most decorated single-Olympics performance by a U.S. female athlete in terms of gold medals, topping Missy Franklin (2012; four golds, 1 bronze), Simone Biles (2016; four golds, 1 bronze), and Amy Van Dyken (1996; four golds). They were called watch times.. It was two big kicks and bilateral breathing. Shes able to really lean into each arm, Sweetser said. It worked. Ledecky won by 4.13 seconds and just missed the world record by 0.53 seconds. [34], Ledecky scored more points than any other swimmer to earn the FINA trophy for best female swimmer of the meet.[35]. Maybe the explanation is unknowable. She won three individual gold medals at the 2013 World Championships,. Ledecky is the first swimmer to win the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyles in a major competition. [119] Ledecky began her racing in the prelims of the 400 meter freestyle, ranking first overall with her time of 4:00.45 and advancing to the final. [42] Ledecky lapped three competitors in the final and finished 27.33 seconds ahead of silver medalist Boyle. The 400? The swimmer wowed the world in 2012 when she competed in her first Olympics at just 15 and won a gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle competition. In the 400-yard individual medley, Ledecky broke Katinka Hossz's all-time record by one-hundredth of a second, finishing in 3:56.53. The American . In a video posted on social media last summer, Ledecky placed a glass of chocolate milk on her head, then swam the length of the pool. In the end, Ledecky was able to hold off a fast charging Pellegrini, eventually winning by a 0.16 margin. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, convincing victory during the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, U.S. swimming trials bring some clarity for athletes after a year of uncertainty, Skateboard phenom Nyjah Huston, a rising Olympic star, blends in on SoCal streets, Elliott: Allyson Felixs desire to win gold on the Olympic stage continues to shine bright, Mikaela Shiffrin wins gold in giant slalom for seventh world title, Bass chief of staff says hell avoid Olympics issues for a year. On the fifth day of competition, Ledecky, with Leah Smith, Mallory Comerford, and Melanie Margalis won gold in the 4200-meter freestyle relay. Katie Ledecky shifts her training base to University of Florida ahead of Paris 2024. Ledecky's swim was the seventh-fastest performance in history. Dinner. A combination of protein (like chicken, steak, or salmon) and a carb (like rice, vegetable, or pasta) rounds out her day. [109][111] She swam a 1:55.11 in the 200 meter freestyle. What I found over time what she was great at, though, was her desire to get better. The collision of hand and water is one piece of a complex, fast-paced puzzle in which the grab and breathing and body rotation and head position and kick and proper body alignment and arms cutting into the pool at the precise angle must work in concert. [66], Following the season, Ledecky became the first freshman in 35 years to receive the Honda Cup, which recognizes the nation's top female collegiate athlete.[67]. Born in Maryland in 1997, Katie Ledecky began swimming competitively at age six. A 58-foot-wide picture of Ledecky adorned the outside of the CHI Health Center in Omaha during the Olympic trials in 2016. And Katie's got tiny feet, too. Mary Gen Ledecky, who swam in college, encouraged her daughter to write down goals. [101][102][103], In the morning of day three, Ledecky swam a 1:57.58 in the 200 meter freestyle prelims, ranking second fastest of all heats. [132][133] Additionally, Ledecky signed on to be a volunteer swim coach for the Florida Gators. But can I please just watch? (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post) At . They review the video together, as much for what he notices as her feedback. Do not let it pass over you., Subscribers get early access to this story. Her time of 7:57.42 surpassed Mireia Belmonte's mark from 2013.[142]. In that race, with the exception of the first 100 and final 50 meters, every 50-meter split was between 30.22 and 30.85 seconds. Her world records came in the 400- and 1500-meter freestyles, with times of 3:58.37 and 15:28.36, respectively. [62] On the meet's final day, Ledecky joined Manuel, Neal, and Janet Hu to break the NCAA and American record in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Because of her analytical approach to training, she knows almost exactly how the race is going to go, Sweetser said. [115][116] The following day in the final, Ledecky won with a time of 8:14.62 and qualified to swim the 800 meter freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics for the United States.[117][118]. At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Ledecky won two gold medals and two silver medals, making her the most decorated U.S. female athlete for a second straight Summer Olympics. She was swimming like most classic female distance swimmers, Suguiyama later told the American Swimming Coaches Assn. [107], On day 4, June 16, she won both the 200m and 1500m freestyle finals in the evening. During their next training session, he recalled, she said, Weve got to get our 40. She did. What happened took everyone by surprise. [97][98][99][100] This accomplishment was highlighted by various news outlets including NBC Sports, Newsweek, and USA Today. [65] In the meet's final event, Ledecky joined Manuel, Neal, and Hu to swim the second leg of Stanford's 400-yard freestyle relay. [139], On day 7, Ledecky won her final event by over 10 seconds, recording a time of 8:08.04 in the 800-meter freestyle. The Untold Truth Of Katie Ledecky. Somehow she makes this look easy. (Photo: JIM SHORIN/isiphotos.com, Graphic: KATRINA LIOU/The Stanford Daily) By Inyoung Choi. He describes them as holy cannoli swims that would leave almost anyone elses jaw on the floor. Yes. Coming Sunday: Home subscribers will receive the Los Angeles Times 24-page Olympic preview section, your guide to the upcoming Games. In Bethesda, she attended Little Flower School through eighth grade and graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in 2015. [90], On Thursday May 20, 2021, at the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite Ledecky won the long course 100 meter freestyle final by one one-hundredth of a second in a time of 53.82 with second place going to Simone Manuel. Shes really activating her core and that allows her upper body to connect to her lower body and when you put those two together, it gives her really great timing and great catch, said Elizabeth Nagle, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies aquatic physiology. Thats why Bruce Gemmell quips that Ledecky would be content to race in a cardboard box. She was just doing what Jon was saying.. Were offering L.A. Times subscribers first access to our best journalism. Winning both? Ledecky's supremacy is not born of any freakish physiological gifts such as Phelps' enormous wingspan or double jointed ankles. That performance burned into the coachs memory. The victories, the records, the head-shaking performances in which her only competition is the clock, are so frequent that they seem as routine as her unassuming comments after each race with history. That continued when Ledecky arrived at Stanford as a freshman in 2016. . But the more coaches and trainers and competitors grasp for answers, the more the reality comes into focus. [76], Ledecky signed her first sponsorship deal with TYR Sport, Inc. on June 8, 2018. At year's end, Ledecky was named the World Swimmer of the Year and American Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine. In between London and Rio, Ledecky quietly became the world's most dominant swimmer no longer just a distance specialist. Thank you for your support. With four golds, Ledecky expanded her career World Championships medal haul to 22, passing Natalie Coughlin for most for a female swimmer. Fifty-two percent of SwimSwam.com readers voted Ledecky the top swimmer of the decade, ahead of Michael Phelps. Katie Ledecky reacts after winning her heat in the Womens 200 Freestyle during the second wave of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials on June 15 in Omaha, Neb. [104] Two events later, she swam a 15:43.10 in the 1500 meter freestyle prelims, ranking as the fastest swimmer of prelims heat, advancing to the final, and setting a new Championship Record over four seconds faster than the previous record she set in 2013. She has no long torso, no wide. [7] In total, she has won 42 medals (34 golds, 7 silvers, and 1 bronze) in major international competitions, spanning the Summer Olympics, World Championships, and Pan Pacific Championships. She feels water better than anyone else has ever felt water, Barbini said. Katie Ledecky, left, finishes the womens 400-meter freestyle final far ahead of silver medal winner Leah Smith, right, during the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on July 23, 2017. Other than standing 6 feet tall, a couple of inches above the average height for female swimming finalists at the Rio Games, she could blend into a crowd outside of the pool. In her second event, Ledecky won gold in the 1500-meter freestyle in a world record time of 15:36.53, breaking the record held by compatriot Kate Ziegler by six seconds. Sims anchored the team to a championship record time of 7:41.45. She won gold in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyles in Tokyo, as well as silver medals in the 400-meter and 4x200-meter freestyle events. Katie Ledecky has no obvious physiological advantages as a swimmer. She has an uncanny ability to remain herself, not flinch in the face of scrutiny and focus on the task at hand. She didnt hesitate to start faster than they expected and maintain the aggressive pace. TOKYO Katie Ledecky has won her first gold of the Tokyo Olympics, in the 1,500 meter freestyle race. "I fought tooth and nail," Ledecky said. Allyson Felix is determined to make the U.S. Olympic track and field team for the upcoming Tokyo Games as she looks to add to her legacy in the sport. Ledecky has plenty, starting with the hip turn and core that provide much of her power. Twice each week, she trained against long-distance swimmers Liam Egan and True Sweetser. Twelve of the top 14 times. On the fourth day of the Olympic trials, for example, she won the 200 freestyle by a full body length after pulling away in the final 50 meters. The stories pile up. [48], In her only event on the fourth day of competition, the 200-meter freestyle, Ledecky won her third gold medal of the meet, winning in a time of 1:55.16. In winning the 400 through 1500-meter titles, she became the second woman ever to win the events in a World Championships since German Hannah Stockbauer in 2003.