Three-time Olympian Katie Ledecky hopes to make a splash in two ways this summer: by releasing her memoir on June 11, and by competing at the Paris Olympics.
Just Add Water: My Swimming Life chronicles the prolific athletic career of the Bethesda, Maryland, native.
Ledecky is known as one of the world’s all-time greatest swimmers, winning more individual Olympic races than any female swimmer in history. Currently, she trains with Olympians from the University of Florida men’s swimming team.
“Just the kind of energy she gives off is that anything is possible,” says two-time Olympic gold medalist Bobby Finke, Ledecky’s UF training partner. “Katie is a whole other level, even when it comes to practice — she leads by example.”
Just Add Water charts Ledecky’s swimming start in Maryland’s Montgomery County, where she first competed at Palisades Swim & Tennis Club in Cabin John at 6 years old. While attending Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda at age 15, she thrilled the community by winning her first gold medal in the London Olympic Games in the 800-meter freestyle.
“I think my favorite event is the 800 free(style), just because it was my first Olympic gold medal back in 2012,” she says. “I’m probably most proud of what I’ve been able to achieve in that event over the years and the consistency that I’ve been able to have each year.”
After Ledecky’s first gold medal, she quickly became a swimming icon. Today, at age 27, she continues to rack up accolades with her sights set on gold at the Olympics.
“The 800 and the 1500 are my bread and butter — to be able to be consistent in those so many years is what I’m happiest about,” Ledecky says. “The next big thing will be the Olympic trials in June; hopefully, all goes well there. The biggest goals are in Paris.”
Despite her immense swimming success, Ledecky admits she is never really satisfied with her performance in the pool, saying it’s a blessing and a curse and always keeps her striving for more.
“I can nitpick a race to death for sure, but I do have to remind myself I can be happy with my races, even if I don’t completely meet my goal,” she says.
“Katie is a lovely, lovely, lovely young lady and as good a swimmer as she is — and she’s a pretty good swimmer — she’s a better person than she is swimmer,” says Bruce Gemmell, Ledecky’s coach from Nation’s Capital Swimming.
And her local fan base remains steadfast.
“She’s part of a big community that is really important to her,” says Stone Ridge Head of School
Catherine Ronan Karrels. “A lot of her joy comes from knowing that she’s inspiring people.”
Feature image courtesy Ledecky family
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