History of Katie Ledecky in Timeline
American competitive swimmer Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky is considered the greatest female swimmer ever, with a record-breaking career. She holds the most World Championship gold medals (21) and individual golds (16) for a female swimmer. Ledecky has also won seven Olympic golds, including six individual golds, another record. She holds the world record in the women's 800- and 1500-meter freestyle and formerly held it in the 400-meter. Additionally, she boasts the fastest-ever times in the 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard freestyle. Her dominance and achievements solidify her place among the greatest Olympians of all time.
September 8, 1947: Arrival of Ledecky's Grandfather in New York
On September 8, 1947, Jaromír Ledecky, Katie Ledecky's paternal grandfather, arrived in New York City to begin his studies.
December 30, 1956: Marriage of Ledecky's Grandparents
Jaromír Ledecky, Katie Ledecky's grandfather, married Berta Ruth Greenwald in Brooklyn on December 30, 1956.
1968: Debbie Meyer's Olympic Triple
Debbie Meyer became the first swimmer to win the 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter freestyles at a single Olympic Games at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
1989: Janet Evans' American Record
Janet Evans set the American record in the women's 800-meter freestyle in 1989, which stood for 23 years.
1996: Amy Van Dyken's Olympic Success
Amy Van Dyken won four gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
March 17, 1997: Birth of Katie Ledecky
Katie Ledecky was born on March 17, 1997.
1998: Stanford's Previous Team Title
Stanford University's women's swim team last won the team title at the NCAA Championships in 1998 before winning again in 2017.
2003: Hannah Stockbauer's World Championship Wins
German swimmer Hannah Stockbauer achieved the impressive feat of winning the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships.
2003: Previous NCAA Championship Margin of Victory Record
The largest margin of victory in the NCAA Championships was in 2003 before Stanford University's women's team set a new record in 2017.
2008: Rebecca Adlington's World Record
In 2008, Rebecca Adlington set the world record in the women's 800-meter freestyle.
2009: Previous World Record in 400-Meter Freestyle
Federica Pellegrini set the world record in the women's 400-meter freestyle in 2009, which Katie Ledecky later broke in 2014.
2012: Olympic Trials Success and Youngest Team Member
At the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials, Ledecky secured her spot on the Olympic team, becoming the youngest American participant at the London Games at 15 years old.
2012: Training with Nation's Capital Swim Club
During the summer of 2012, Ledecky trained with the Nation's Capital Swim Club under coach Yuri Suguiyama.
2012: 2012 Olympic Games
In 2012, Ledecky became a member of the USA Olympic team.
2012: International Debut and Olympic Gold
In 2012, at 15 years old, Katie Ledecky made her international debut at the London Olympics, surprisingly winning gold in the women's 800-meter freestyle.
2012: Dominating 800-meter Freestyle for Gold
Ledecky's 2012 Olympic performance in the 800-meter freestyle final was nothing short of dominant, winning gold by a significant margin and nearly breaking the world record.
2012: Ledecky Makes History with 800m Freestyle Win at London Olympics
Ledecky's win in the 800m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics at the age of 15 made her the youngest person to ever win the event.
2012: Missy Franklin's Olympic Success
Missy Franklin won four gold medals and a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
2013: Qualification for World Aquatics Championships
Ledecky qualified for four individual events and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships.
2013: Ledecky Breaks World Record in 800m Short Course Freestyle
Ledecky shattered the world record in the 800m short course freestyle in 2013, clocking in at an astonishing 7:57.42. This remarkable feat surpassed Mireia Belmonte's previous record.
2013: World Champion and Record-Breaking Performance
At the 2013 World Championships, Ledecky solidified her status as a swimming sensation by winning gold in multiple events and setting two world records.
2013: Ledecky Sets Championship Record in 1500m Freestyle Prelims
In 2013, Ledecky set a new Championship Record in the 1500m freestyle prelims, surpassing the previous record by over four seconds.
2013: First US Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year Award
In 2013, Ledecky received her first United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year award.
2013: Swimmer of the Year Awards
In 2013, Katie Ledecky was recognized as the American Swimmer of the Year and the World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine. FINA Aquatics World magazine also named her the best female swimmer of the year.
2014: World Record Breaker
At the 2014 Woodlands Swim Team Senior Invitational, Katie Ledecky broke her own world records in the 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle events. She swam the 1500-meter freestyle in 15:34.23 and the 800-meter freestyle in 8:11.00.
2014: Pan Pacific Swimming Championships Domination
Katie Ledecky had a very successful showing at the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Gold Coast, Australia, where she won five gold medals and set two new world records. She won the 200-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter freestyle events, setting new world records in the 400-meter and 1500-meter freestyles with times of 3:58.37 and 15:28.36, respectively. She also won gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Her four individual gold medals marked the first time a woman had achieved this in a single Pan Pacific Championship.
2014: Previous World Record in 400-Meter Freestyle
Katie Ledecky set a world record in the 400-meter freestyle in 2014, which she surpassed at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
2014: US National Championships and World Record in 400-Meter Freestyle
Katie Ledecky won the 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter freestyle events at the 2014 US National Championships, setting a new world record in the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 3:58.86, surpassing Federica Pellegrini's 2009 record.
2014: Champion of Champions Recognition
Ledecky was honored as the international female Champion of Champions by L'Équipe in 2014.
2015: World Aquatics Championships Success
Katie Ledecky won five gold medals at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, and broke three world records. She was victorious in the 200-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter freestyles, as well as the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, setting new world records in the 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyles in the process. She became the first swimmer, male or female, to win the 200-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter freestyles in a major competition. She was named the best female swimmer of the meet.
2015: Graduation from Stone Ridge School
Ledecky graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in 2015, leaving behind a legacy of record-breaking performances in swimming.
2015: Qualification for World Aquatics Championships
The 2014 US National Championships served as a qualifying meet for the 2015 World Aquatics Championships.
November 2016: Ohio State Invitational Records
Katie Ledecky set new American and US Open records in the women's 500-yard freestyle and 1650-yard freestyle at the Ohio State Invitational in November 2016.
December 2016: Sponsorship of USS Enterprise
In December 2016, Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles were chosen as sponsors for the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, a first for Olympians.
2016: Second US Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year Award
Ledecky was named the United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year for the second time in 2016.
2016: Continued Training and Olympic Success
Ledecky continued her training with the Nation's Capital Swim Club under coach Bruce Gemmell through the 2016 Olympics, where she achieved remarkable success.
2016: 2016 Olympic Games
Ledecky competed in the 2016 Olympic Games as part of the USA Olympic team.
2016: Olympic Silver Medal in 4x100-Meter Freestyle Relay
Katie Ledecky won her first medal of the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, where she swam the anchor leg in both the preliminary heats and the final. She helped the team secure the silver medal, with the US team setting a new national record of 3:31.89 in the event.
2016: Olympic Success and Records
Katie Ledecky won four gold medals and one silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Her gold medal count was the highest for a US female athlete at a single Olympics, tying Missy Franklin's 2012 performance and Simone Biles' 2016 performance. She was the second-most decorated Olympian at the 2016 games after Michael Phelps.
2016: Most Decorated Female Athlete at Rio Olympics
Katie Ledecky was the most decorated female athlete at the 2016 Rio Olympics, earning four gold medals, one silver, and setting two world records.
2016: Arena Pro Swim Series and World Record
Katie Ledecky started off 2016 by setting a new world record in the 800-meter freestyle at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Austin, Texas, with a time of 8:06.68. She also achieved world-leading times in the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle at that meet and a US-leading time in the 100-meter freestyle.
2016: US Olympic Trials Domination
Katie Ledecky secured her spot at the 2016 Summer Olympics by winning the 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter freestyles at the US Olympic Trials. She set a new meet record in the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 3:58.98, won the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 1:54.88, and broke Janet Evan's 28-year-old national championship record in the 800-meter freestyle with a time of 8:10.91. She then won the 800-meter freestyle final with a time of 8:10.32. She was named the best female swimmer of the meet.
2016: NCAA Success at Stanford
Katie Ledecky began swimming for Stanford University in 2016, and in her freshman year, she set 12 new NCAA records and nine American records.
November 2017: Texas A&M Invitational Record
Katie Ledecky set a new American and US Open record in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 15:03.31 at the Texas A&M Invitational in November 2017.
2017: Second NCAA Team Title with Stanford
Katie Ledecky helped lead Stanford University to its second NCAA team title, setting three NCAA records and two American records in the process.
2017: US National Championship Wins
Katie Ledecky won the 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter freestyle events at the 2017 US National Championships, qualifying for the 2017 World Aquatics Championships.
2017: Multiple Awards and Recognitions
In 2017, Ledecky received several prestigious awards, including the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and the international female Champion of Champions by L'Équipe.
May 16, 2018: Professional Swimming Debut and World Record
Katie Ledecky began her professional swimming career on May 16, 2018, at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis, Indiana. She marked the occasion by beating her own world record in the 1500-meter freestyle, recording a time of 15:20.48.
June 8, 2018: Katie Ledecky Signs with TYR Sport
On June 8, 2018, Katie Ledecky signed her first sponsorship deal with TYR Sport, Inc.
July 2018: Ledecky Qualifies for 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
In July 2018, Katie Ledecky secured her spot at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships by achieving first place in the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle events at the US National Swimming Championships.
2018: Ledecky's Success at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
At the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo, Ledecky's exceptional performance earned her the title of the swimmer with the most individual titles. She secured three gold medals in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events, a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle, and a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
2019: Ledecky's Perseverance at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships
In 2019, at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Katie Ledecky faced health challenges that led her to withdraw from two events. Despite this setback, she demonstrated remarkable resilience by securing her fourth consecutive World Championship title in the 800-meter freestyle event.
December 2020: Completion of Stanford Degree
In December 2020, Ledecky completed her coursework for a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in political science from Stanford University.
2020: Ledecky Makes History with 200m and 1500m Freestyle Wins at Olympic Trials
On June 16, 2020, Ledecky further cemented her dominance by winning both the 200m and 1500m freestyle finals at the US Olympic Trials. In the 1500m freestyle, she clocked a time of 15:40.50, breaking her own Championship Record from the previous day and becoming the first woman to win the event at the US Olympic Trials. Her 1:55.11 finish in the 200m freestyle secured her spots on the US Olympic Team for the 2020 Summer Olympics in both events, as well as the 4x200m freestyle relay.
2020: Ledecky Qualifies for Her Third Olympics
Ledecky's victory in the 400m freestyle at the US Olympic trials secured her a spot on the US Olympic team for the 2020 Summer Olympics, marking her third Olympic appearance.
2020: 2020 Olympic Games
Ledecky participated in the 2020 Olympic Games as a member of the USA Olympic team.
2020: Ledecky Qualifies for 800m Freestyle at 2020 Olympics
In 2020, Ledecky qualified for the 800-meter freestyle at the Summer Olympics after winning the final with a time of 8:14.62.
2020: Ledecky's Dominance in the 1500m Freestyle Continues
In 2020, Ledecky continued to dominate the 1500m freestyle, winning the event with a time of 15:30.15, a remarkable 14 seconds faster than the runner-up, her teammate Katie Grimes. This impressive time was the sixth-fastest ever recorded, only surpassed by her own previous performances, and over 7 seconds faster than her winning time at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
2020: Ledecky's Performance at the TYR Pro Swim Series
At the start of 2020, Ledecky participated in the TYR Pro Swim Series in Des Moines, Iowa, where she emerged victorious in the 200m, 400m, and 1500m freestyle races. However, due to illness, she had to withdraw from the 800m freestyle race and did not participate in any further events that year.
2020: Ledecky Earns Silver in 400m Freestyle at Tokyo Olympics
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Ledecky secured two gold and two silver medals, making her the most decorated female athlete in the U.S. for the second consecutive Summer Olympics. Ledecky's Olympic journey began with the 400m freestyle prelims, where she clocked the fastest time overall (4:00.45), securing her place in the final. However, in a surprising turn of events, she finished second to Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus, earning the silver medal. Despite leading at the 300m mark, Ledecky finished half a second behind Titmus. Her time of 3:57.36, although a personal best and the fourth-fastest time in history, marked her first individual loss at the Olympics.
2020: Historic Olympic Three-Peat
At the 2020 Olympics, Ledecky achieved a historic three-peat, becoming the first American woman to win an individual swimming event in three consecutive Olympics. She was also the most decorated U.S. female athlete at the Games.
2020: Pandemic Forces Ledecky's Unique Training Regimen
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, training facilities were shut down, prompting Ledecky and her teammate Simone Manuel to adapt their Olympic training. They resorted to utilizing a 25-yard private pool in Atherton, situated in the backyard of masters swimmer Tod Spieker.
May 20, 2021: Ledecky's Narrow Victory at the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite
On May 20, 2021, at the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite, Ledecky narrowly clinched victory in the long course 100m freestyle final, edging out Simone Manuel by a mere one-hundredth of a second with a time of 53.82.
June 14, 2021: Ledecky Secures Olympic Spot in 400m Freestyle
On June 14, 2021, Ledecky competed in the 400m freestyle, clocking in at 4:03.07 in the morning prelims. This placed her first overall and secured her a spot in the evening final. In a triumphant win, she finished with a time of 4:01.27, earning her a place on the US Olympic Team for the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 400m freestyle. This marked her third time representing the US at the Olympics.
June 2021: Ledecky's Olympic Trials Interview and Training
During the NBC evening broadcast of the first day of the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic trials (which were delayed to June 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic), Ledecky gave an interview. She talked about Stanford University's commencement, earning her college degree, and preparing for the Olympic Trials. Due to pandemic-related closures, Ledecky and her teammate Simone Manuel resorted to training in a 25-yard backyard pool owned by masters swimmer Tod Spieker in Atherton.
June 2021: Graduation from Stanford University
Ledecky graduated from Stanford University in June 2021.
June 18, 2021: Ledecky Dominates 800m Freestyle Prelims at Olympic Trials
Ledecky continued her winning streak on June 18, 2021, by securing first place in the 800-meter freestyle prelims at the US Olympic Trials. Her time of 8:16.61 secured her a spot in the final.
2021: Ledecky's Dominant Performance at the TYR Pro Swim Series
Katie Ledecky started 2021 strong with a remarkable performance at the TYR Pro Swim Series in San Antonio, Texas. She showcased her dominance by winning all four freestyle races: the 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m.
2021: Ledecky's Historic 800m Freestyle Victory at Tokyo Olympics
At 24 years old, Ledecky achieved a historic feat by winning the 800m freestyle at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the oldest swimmer to win the event and the first to win a distance event three times in a row.
2022: Continued Recognition and the ESPY Award
Ledecky's achievements continued to be recognized in 2022 with accolades like the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and the ESPY for Best Female Athlete.
2022: Ledecky Dominates at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships
Ledecky's exceptional performance at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest saw her win gold in all four of her events: the 400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay, and 800m freestyle. These victories increased her total World Championships medal count to 22, surpassing Natalie Coughlin for the most medals won by a female swimmer. This outstanding performance also earned her FINA's female swimmer of the meet trophy for the third time.
2023: 2023 World Aquatics Championships
At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Ledecky won two gold and two silver medals. This event was notable because her 16th career individual gold medal win surpassed Michael Phelps for most individual gold medals at the world championships.
2023: Ledecky's Impressive Performance at the 2023 USA Swimming Championships
Ledecky had a strong showing at the 2023 USA Swimming Championships in Indianapolis, taking home three gold medals in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events, and a silver medal in the 200m freestyle. Her times in the 800m freestyle (8:07.07) and 1500m freestyle (15:29.64) were particularly noteworthy, ranking as the third and sixth fastest times in history, respectively, with only her own past performances surpassing them.
2023: Unprecedented Sixth World Championship Gold
Ledecky made history in 2023 by becoming the first swimmer ever, male or female, to win six World Championship gold medals in a single event, achieving this feat in the 800-meter freestyle.
2024: Presidential Medal of Freedom
Katie Ledecky was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden in 2024, a testament to her extraordinary achievements in swimming.
2024: 2024 Olympic Games
Ledecky is set to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games, marking her fourth time as a USA Olympic team member.
2024: 2024 US Olympic Trials
On June 15, 2024, Ledecky secured her spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics with a first place finish in the 400-meter women's freestyle at the US Olympic trials.