Katie Ledecky, born March 17, 1997, in Bethesda, Maryland, is an American competitive swimmer widely regarded as one of the greatest female swimmers of all time. She began swimming competitively at age six and quickly rose to prominence. At 15, she was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic team at the 2012 London Games, where she won her first Olympic gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle, setting an American record in the process. Ledecky's dominance continued through subsequent Olympics: at the 2016 Rio Games, she won four gold medals and one silver, becoming the most decorated female athlete of those Games. In Tokyo 2020, she made history as the first woman to compete in and win gold in the 1500-meter freestyle, an event newly added to the Olympic program. Across these three Olympics, she has accumulated 14 Olympic medals, including nine golds, making her the most decorated American woman and the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history. Beyond the Olympics, Ledecky has won a record 18 individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships and holds multiple world records in freestyle events, including the 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter distances. She also holds the fastest times in several short-course freestyle events. Her long-distance freestyle prowess and consistent record-breaking performances have set new standards in women’s swimming. Ledecky attended Stanford University, where she was an eight-time NCAA champion. As of 2025, she remains an active competitor and recently added to her medal tally at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning two golds, a silver, and a bronze. She is also involved in coaching roles, contributing to the sport beyond her competitive career. In sum, Katie Ledecky stands as a historic figure in swimming, known for her extraordinary endurance, speed, and medal record across multiple international competitions over more than a decade[1][2][3][4][5][6][8].