Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky says it’s been a “true honor” to represent the United States at the Olympics. She told Fox News, “Something I don’t take for granted is getting that opportunity, and I’m excited to hopefully have the chance in a couple of months. We have our Olympic trials in June first, so I have to get through that. Swimming in the United States is super competitive, so even just qualifying for a U.S. team is a huge honor. And then, once you’re named to that team, the expectations are high. And we all want to bring home some medals.”
Ledecky continued, “We take a lot of pride representing Team USA. I have a good feeling about how Team USA is going to [do] this summer, both in swimming and in all the other sports as well. I think it’ll be a great summer.” Ledecky is considered one of the world’s greatest swimmers, with seven Olympic gold medals and three silver under her belt. Despite all her success, the swimmer says she’s ready for some competition at this year’s Olympic trials. She shared, “I think the world of swimming is super competitive right now. It’s not just the United States and Australia. There are amazing swimmers from all over the world. Certainly, the U.S. and Australia have been top nations for many, many years.”
The swimmer continued, “There’s some really competitive relay competitions between the two countries. But really, I don’t think we can count out anyone at this point from around the world. I certainly have my eyes on lots of different swimmers from around the world. I’m mainly focused on my own performance and what I can do to help Team USA.” She previously spoke about how exciting it is to see an increased focus on women’s sports and athletes, telling USA Today, “I’m always flipping through the channels, just seeing the number of women’s games and meets on TV. I’m seeing more and more of it. It’s an exciting time, just getting more eyes on women’s sports and having some really great stars show what they can do, just showcasing what women can do at that level.”
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Ledecky has also shared how she leans on her faith while competing. She credits God for keeping her grounded throughout her successful career in and out of the pool. Ledecky has broken multiple records to date and is the top women’s swimmer in the world. She holds seven individual Olympic gold medals and 14 individual long-course world titles.
After the 2016 Rio games, Ledecky told the National Catholic Register that her faith “is a big part of who I am and how I’ve made it here.” She shared, “I’ve counted on my faith to give me strength through both training and competition — but also in school, with my family and everyday life. So, while my goals in the pool have changed, my faith remains something that’s consistent and something I can always rely on.”