When it comes to women’s swimming, one name looms large:Olympic champion Katie Ledecky.
you’ve got the option to eat before you swim."
To see where those traits originated, aSports Illustratedprofile looked into her family’s history.
That experience, noted the profile, also proved to be a defining one in her young life.
She began competing at age 6
Swimming was a necessity in Katie Ledecky’s family.
When her mother’s sister was just four, she almost drowned after slipping off a dock.
After that, her grandfather, Bud Hagan, insisted that all his children learned how to swim.
That tradition continued to the next generation, and Ledecky began swimming at an early age.
She was six, in fact, when she first began competing.
Since she insisted on swimming, he advised her mom to stuff cotton in her ears.
As the years passed, Ledecky’s skills continued to increase, as did her relentless drive to win.
“It feels great,” she said during apost-victory press conference.
This time, Ledecky brought home five medals, four gold and one silver.
“I still want to have the opportunities to compete on this level.”
That amazing showing at the Rio games led her to be named the Female Athlete of the Olympics.
“The Hail Mary is a beautiful prayer and I find that it calms me.”
“It gives me peace knowing I’m in good hands.”
“We’re excited to cut this steel today and start this process.”
“Everyone here today is part of the ‘Big E’ family, the team,” she added.
She made the announcement while appearing at theNational Press Club.
While she tried to keep that out of her decision-making process, it nevertheless weighed on her.
“It’s a bonus I get to go with some of my best friends.”
“It was busy, and it was challenging,” Ledecky toldThe Washington Post.
“But it also gave me something to do and something to focus on.
There was definitely the side benefit of keeping my mind occupied during this time.”
In November 2021, Ledecky graduated with a degree in psychology.
3, behind onlyswimming phenom Michael Phelps(at first place) and nine-time Olympic champ Mark Spitz.
In women’s swimming, though, there are many who believe that she simply has no peer.
“When you look at all she has done, it’s unbelievable.
No one has shown that kind of dominance.
In the longer events, it’s like she’s racing in a different pool.
And she’s done it all with such professionalism.”
She responded with characteristic humility.
After her big win, Ledecky admitted she hadn’t realized she could potentially shatter those records.
“It’s special.
I really didn’t even know I was going to achieve that until people started telling me.
It’s cool,” she said, as reported byCNN.
“I’m happy with that swim.
I wanted it to be a little better, but I’ll take it.
I’m really pleased with how the week went.”
“It is just the product of hard work over many years.”
She concluded by sharing her thanks to President Biden.
