(Paris) “Hello! I’m Katie Ledecky. These will be my fourth Games. And I swim the 400m, the 800m and the 1500m.”
That’s how the 27-year-old athlete introduced himself on Wednesday at the start of the US swimming team’s press conference.
Ledecky could have been introduced by the communications team as “the greatest swimmer in history.” Or as “the seven-time Olympic gold medalist.” Or even as “the Michael Phelps of her generation.” It would have been legitimate.
But she preferred to keep things simple. Katie Ledecky is a swimmer who will be competing in her fourth Olympic Games.
With 21 world titles, 10 Olympic medals and two world records and three Olympic records that still stand, Ledecky has nothing left to prove.
Yet the conference room was packed. Journalists were practically fighting over microphones in the hope of asking a question of this American icon, who in 2024 will be awarded the Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
Expectations for her are immense. Anything less would have been surprising given her track record. And since she can deliver nothing less than excellence, we can expect her to once again push the limits of what is possible in the pool.
“I refuse to be satisfied. I am continually looking forward,” she said.
But even though she is confident in her abilities and skills, Ledecky’s modesty has colored this rare media availability of the athlete. She was taken aback when asked what makes her the greatest swimmer in history.
“No comment,” she said, laughing and stepping away from the microphone, visibly uncomfortable.
“The way he handles expectations and pressure is incredible,” his coach Todd Desorbo said.
Then, her teammate Ryan Murphy added: “She’s so humble. She’s a leader. I take a lot of inspiration from her mentality. I want to understand what it’s like to get to the top and stay there. She’s been there for a decade. It would have been easy after her medals to ease off, but on the contrary, she just keeps getting better.”
A long reign
Few would have bet on the 15-year-old swimmer from Maryland when she unexpectedly qualified for the 2012 London Games. Even fewer would have bet on her stunning victory in the 800m freestyle.
Since then, through sheer stubbornness, she has never slowed down. Whether at the Olympic Games or the World Championships, she has always won gold in this event since the beginning of her career.
When I was new, I remember listening to every piece of advice and asking questions from the veterans. And the advice I got was to appreciate every detail. And I think I’ve kept that. I think I’ll keep that for the rest of my life.
Katie Ledecky
His dominance over 1500 metres, too, leaves no doubt as to his ability to triumph again.
In the 400m, however, the certainty is less. She has missed out on the title at the last Games and the last World Championships. Swimmers like Australia’s Ariarne Titmus and Canada’s Summer McIntosh are more likely to win.
“They are very good athletes and I have been lucky enough to train with them a few times, especially with Summer who trains in the United States.”
At the same time, as she pointed out, the ferocity of the competition imposed by her rivals forces her to work even harder. “It’s good to be able to confront the best. They help improve my performance, because I have to push to be at my best.”
Even though she says she is “totally ready to compete”, this is the event that should be the toughest. “I like my chances,” said the Olympic gold medallist, four-time world champion and Olympic record holder for the distance, with a broad smile.
The privilege
When she spoke of her preparation that had brought her to Paris, Ledecky spoke with stars in her eyes. As if after all these years, she had never lost her capacity for wonder.
She said she was impressed by the facilities at the La Défense Arena upon her arrival.
“When we went to the edge of the pool yesterday, I saw the stands, the big lights, it looked a lot like the American trials,” she rightly noted.
Team USA’s national tryouts were held at the end of June at the Indianapolis Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium in the NFL. The stadium had been completely revamped for the event. The images were impressive.
The idea, therefore, of finding ourselves in such an environment represents “a significant advantage for us”. In 2021, in Tokyo, the United States won 30 medals, including 11 gold, in swimming. A high point. The tally should be similar in Paris.
“I don’t want to think too much about results,” said Ledecky, who thanks to many historic performances, needs no introduction. Even if on occasion, she prefers to simply name herself. As if she were a swimmer like any other.