Katie Ledecky

Katie Ledecky is an American competitive swimmer. She was born in Washington, D.C., in 1997. She is considered the greatest female distance swimmer of all time. She has won multiple Olympic gold medals and broken many world records.

Early Life

Ledecky started swimming when she was six years old. She qualified for the Olympics when she was just 15. At the 2012 London Olympics, she won her first gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle. She was still in high school at the time.

Record-Breaking Career

Ledecky has won seven Olympic gold medals in her career. She holds world records in multiple freestyle distance events. She has won more individual Olympic gold medals than any other female swimmer. She swam for Stanford University and graduated with a degree in psychology.

Fun Facts

• Katie Ledecky won her first Olympic gold medal at age 15.
• She has broken her own world records multiple times.
• She once swam a race while balancing a glass of chocolate milk on her head without spilling it.

Did You Know?

Katie Ledecky often wins her races by such a large margin that she finishes while other swimmers are still a full pool length behind her.