He describes them as holy cannoli swims that would leave almost anyone elses jaw on the floor. On the first day of competition, Ledecky won gold in the 800-meter freestyle with a championship-record time of 8:09.13, topping runner-up Ariarne Titmus of Australia by 7.94 seconds. [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. During her career, she has broken sixteen world records. At the 2013 World Championships, Ledecky won gold in the 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle, and in the 4200-meter freestyle relay, and set two world records. Ledecky has also received the following awards:[143], Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 16:58, Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year, College Sports Information Directors of America, Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, FINA Best Swimming Performance of the Year, List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women), List of top Olympic gold medalists in swimming, List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women), List of individual gold medalists in swimming at the Olympics and World Aquatics Championships (women), World record progression 400 metres freestyle, World record progression 800 metres freestyle, World record progression 1500 metres freestyle, Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016, "Katie Ledecky Turns Pro After Dominating College Swimming", "How Katie Ledecky Became the Greatest Distance Swimmer of All Time", "The debate about Washington's greatest athlete is over: it's Katie Ledecky", "Ledecky Johns Elite Company With Third Straight Title in 800 Freestlye", Katie Ledecky wins Female Athlete of the Olympic Games, "New York City Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957", "Back to her roots: How Katie Ledecky became so dominant in the pool", "Gold medalist swimmer inspired by her Jewish history", "Pozor, vlny. The standards for her externally, I think, are just tough sometimes, Meehan said. With her mark in the 400, Ledecky became the first female since Janet Evans to hold world records simultaneously in the 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyles. [82], For the seventh-straight year, Ledecky finished the year with the top times in the world in both the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle (8:10.70 and 15:35.98). The next day, Ledecky anchored for Team USA in the women's 4x200 freestyle relay, winning a silver medal alongside teammates Allison Schmitt, Paige Madden, and Katie McLaughlin behind China. Ledecky opened the Trials with a win and meet record in the 400-meter freestyle (3:58.98). 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. God? In her international debut at the 2012 London Olympic Games as a 15-year-old, Ledecky unexpectedly won the gold medal in the women's 800-metre freestyle. Genetics? Her combined 20 individual titles at the Olympics (6) and World Aquatics Championships (14) is also a record for female swimmers. In the inaugural season of the International Swimming League, Ledecky represented DC Trident. On the first day of the meet, Ledecky anchored the 800-yard freestyle relay with a 1:40.28 split to break the NCAA, American, and U.S. Open record in the 800-yard freestyle relay with Lia Neal, Katie Drabot, and Ella Eastin. They realized the goals, lofty as they might seem for a teenager, were too pedestrian. Her world records came in the 800- and 1500-meter freestyles. Her 400-meter split was 4:04.34, a personal best for Ledecky in that distance, and would have placed fifth in the individual 400-meter freestyle. On the third day, Ledecky defeated Titmus wire-to-wire in the 400-meter freestyle.[80]. Then the windmilling to the other side resumed. Ledecky, who has broken the 4-minute barrier in the distance 20 times, thought she had been faster. At the 2013 US National Championships, Ledecky qualified to swim in four individual events and the 4200-meter freestyle relay at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Spain, though she later dropped the 200-meter freestyle from her program. 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. Its just her commitment and desire for getting better.. Thank you for your support. Catholic faith anchors U.S. Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter. Dinner. [68] Later that evening, Ledecky swam the third leg of the 4100-meter freestyle. The Americans (Simone Manuel, Ledecky, Melanie Margalis and Katie McLaughlin) set a new American record and swam under the existing world record with a time of 7:41.87, yet placed second to the Australian team (7:41.50). But she addressed it and moved forward. The usual gap for a world record is as thin as an Olympic medal. [61] On the meet's third day, she won the 400-yard individual medley in a new American record of 3:57.68 before finishing second to teammate Simone Manuel in the 200-yard freestyle with a personal best time less than a half hour later. It might be easy to brush off the prediction as a fluke, but chance doesnt play much of a role when Ledecky is involved. She has won seven Olympic gold medals and 19 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer. Thats whats allowing her to get such a good grab of the water and have such good force generation per stroke.. Then theres the sheer efficiency of how her body works. That shows a mastery. Ledecky swam the second half of the race faster than the first, completing the final 800 meters in 8:14.11faster than any other woman has completed a regular 800-meter race in a textile suit. Her win was made even more impressive by the fact that, per her Team USA . "Katie Ledecky is the student that takes 20 credits a semester at Harvard and gets a 4.0 every semester -- and nobody likes that person," said Elizabeth Beisel, a 2012 Olympic silver and bronze . Shes swimming faster than we are, said Urbanchek, coach to 44 Olympians and an assistant on six Olympic teams. And perhaps thats the greatest mystery of all. At the academic year's conclusion, the College Sports Information Directors of America named Ledecky the Division I Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for her athletic and academic achievements. [63] The next day, she lowered her own record in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:24.06, beating the second-fastest performer of all-time, Leah Smith, by nearly five seconds. However, elite swimmers focus on how to generate propulsion more efficiently.. Hideki Takagi, a professor at the University of Tsukuba in Japan focused on the hydrodynamics and biomechanics of swimming, underlined the importance of this trait. Katie Ledecky is doing what Katie Ledecky does! the public address announcer shouted last month as she completed another convincing victory during the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Neb. She was swimming like most classic female distance swimmers, Suguiyama later told the American Swimming Coaches Assn. How Katie Ledecky swims faster than the rest of the world [8], Ledecky was born in Washington, D.C.[1] and raised in the suburb of Bethesda, Maryland,[9] the daughter of Mary Gen (Hagan) and David Ledecky. Ledecky won easily in 4 minutes 1.27 seconds, the 43rd-fastest swim ever by a woman. For lengthy races like the 1,500 meters, this must remain constant for more than 15 minutes. Katie Ledecky What Makes the Perfect Swimmer's Body? - Swimming World News We dont talk about it. Swimming the anchor leg, Ledecky recorded a split of 1:54.02, and the Americans finished with an aggregate time of 7:43.39. In between London and Rio, Ledecky quietly became the world's most dominant swimmer no longer just a distance specialist. We dont clamor for such answers while admiring a sopranos voice or an actors ability to make us weep. With four golds, Ledecky expanded her career World Championships medal haul to 22, passing Natalie Coughlin for most for a female swimmer. He can count on one hand the number of times she was floored by a workout. Maybe there isnt a secret. [85] She finished third in the Associated Press's Female Athlete of the Decade voting, behind Serena Williams and Simone Biles. She has an elder brother. [138], Ledecky joined Claire Weinstein, Leah Smith, and Bella Sims on the U.S. 4x200 freestyle relay on day five. If I have a bad practice, I dont let it get to me, Ledecky said. On the final day of competition, she reset her world record in the 800-meter freestyle, clocking a time of 8:06.68. Katie Ledecky competes in the women's 1500-meter freestyle during the U.S. Olympic swim trials on June 16 in Omaha, Neb. Katie Ledecky heads to Tokyo Olympics - The Washington Post You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. The world record margin for the 12 other individual events in the Olympic program is 0.44%. [42] Ledecky lapped three competitors in the final and finished 27.33 seconds ahead of silver medalist Boyle. She didnt hesitate to start faster than they expected and maintain the aggressive pace. Ledecky began the year by breaking her own world records in the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle at the 2014 Woodlands Swim Team Senior Invitational in June. The quiet 15-year-old usually kept up with the men, who noticed fearlessness and poise that belied her youth. [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. Or Gemmell calling other coaches for ideas on how to challenge this once-in-a-lifetime teenager doing crazy stuff in practice. Michael Phelps, the 28-time Olympic medalist, called Ledecky the greatest female swimmer of our time.. Coming Sunday: Home subscribers will receive the Los Angeles Times 24-page Olympic preview section, your guide to the upcoming Games. She certainly is.. [53], Her first individual event was the 400-meter freestyle. Ledecky sometimes texts her mother, Mary Gen, or brother, Michael, after a particularly good set. Inside the 24-year-old Katie Ledecky's decision to leave Stanford and join elite training partners and a new coach in Anthony Nesty at the University of Florida, ahead of Paris 2024. She had a smile that seemed bigger than her diminutive frame, swim cap pulled over her ears and enthusiastic post-race analyses captured on home movies. Do not let it pass over you., Subscribers get early access to this story. She also holds the fastest-ever times in the women's 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard freestyle events. [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. Ledecky trailed Quadarella into the final wall. That night, Ledecky lowered the record again, setting the first world record ever at the new Gold Coast Aquatic Center with a time of 3:58.37. [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. 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. In the final, she joined Simone Manuel, Abbey Weitzeil, and Dana Vollmer and recorded a split of 52.79, helping the team earn a silver medal (behind Australia) with a time of 3:31.89, a new national record for the United States. [108][109][110] Ledecky swam a 15:40.50 in the 1500 meter freestyle, lowering her Championship Record from the day before and becoming the first winner of the women's 1500 meter freestyle at the US Olympic Trials. Figure Skating championships. Twelve of the top 14 times. "[18], During the championships' closing ceremonies, Ledecky was named the female swimmer of the meet.[43]. Twice each week, she trained against long-distance swimmers Liam Egan and True Sweetser. Its a remarkable combination, particularly for someone to be that dominant for so long, which takes so much commitment, while at the same time being so nice and polite and kind., Matt Barbini, USA Swimmings national team performance director. 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.. The Untold Truth Of Katie Ledecky - TheList Her 3:57.36 on Sunday was the second-fastest she . [27] At 15 years, 4 months, and 10 days, she was the youngest American participant at the 2012 Olympic Games.[28]. Ledecky leaves some of the most experienced people in swimming grasping for the secret to her dominance. Ledecky provided the US with an early lead, swimming the first leg in a personal best of 1:56.32. [4], Ledecky began swimming at the age of six due to the influence of her older brother, Michael, and her mother, who swam for the University of New Mexico. Many of the top women in the world also possess great height, as world record-holders Sarah Sjostrom and Katie Ledeckey are both six feet tall (1.83m), while 100 free gold medalists Simone Manuel. She qualified in the heats with an Olympic record, 8:12.86, and set a world record in the finals of 8:04.79, over 11 seconds faster than the silver medalist, Jazmin Carlin. OMAHA As she prepared for her first Olympics nine years ago, a 15-year-old Katie Ledecky carried hopes and dreams into the London Games. No. Ledecky won by 4.13 seconds and just missed the world record by 0.53 seconds. 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. Instead, Ledecky has a gift that defies measurement. More recently, in the 1,500 at the Olympic trials, again, except . Ledecky concluded the meet with a win in the 800-meter freestyle, her fifth-straight title in the event across Olympics and World Championships. [64] On the meet's final day, Ledecky set an NCAA record in the 1000-yard freestyle (9:06.90) en route to a championship record in the 1650-yard freestyle (15:07.70), defeating runner-up Smith by 21.19 seconds and lapping all other competitors. 883 following. No detail is too small. The Washington athlete is also holds the 800m and 1500m freestyle world records, and owns 18 of the 20 fastest 1500m freestyle times ever. [111] Ledecky won the 200 meter and 1500 meter freestyle finals in a time span of about 70 minutes as well as collecting her medal at the 200 meter freestyle medal ceremony and eating a snack. Katie Ledecky, byname of Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky, (born March 17, 1997, Washington, D.C., U.S.), American swimmer who was one of the sport's dominant freestylers in the early 21st century, breaking numerous records. At year's end, Ledecky was named the World Swimmer of the Year and American Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine. Im know Im supposed to be doing this too. 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. General swimmers tend to think that if they can just get their arms around faster and kick their legs faster, they can swim faster. Katie Ledecky breaks yet another world record | CNN With the victory, Ledecky became the first swimmer, male or female, to win five consecutive world championship titles in an individual event. In the end, Ledecky was able to hold off a fast charging Pellegrini, eventually winning by a 0.16 margin. What happened took everyone by surprise. [51] At the conclusion of the week, Ledecky was named the female swimmer of the meet. Because of her analytical approach to training, she knows almost exactly how the race is going to go, Sweetser said. 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.