Olympic Medalist Katie Ledecky Shares Her Reflections During Gold Medal Competitions

Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky, at merely 28, distinguishes herself as one of the most remarkable athletes in history. Boasting 14 Olympic medals, including nine gold, she is the most decorated American female in Olympic annals and ranks as the most adorned female swimmer to date. Despite her accolades, Ledecky maintains humility and determination, revealing during a commencement address at Stanford University her thoughts while swimming.

A graduate of Stanford in 2020, Ledecky shared that she frequently reflects on her family during competitions, particularly remembering her grandfather Jerry’s immigration from Czechoslovakia and her grandfather Hagan’s role as a Navy surgeon in World War II. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she found inspiration in the memories of her grandmothers during the 1,500-meter freestyle, a race she triumphed in after a tough 200-meter freestyle. Reciting their names with every stroke buoyed her morale, contributing to her first gold in Tokyo 2020. She subsequently secured another gold in the 800-meter freestyle and extended her achievements at Paris 2024 by claiming two additional golds.

Ledecky recommends remaining connected to family, highlighting their influence on her successes. As she looks forward to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, she continues to be a formidable athlete, recently shattering her own world record in the 800-meter freestyle in May. Follow her journey on her Instagram.