Who Is Katie Ledecky? (Who HQ Now)

Who Is Katie Ledecky? (Who HQ Now)

Learn how a young girl who loved being in the water became one of the greatest Olympic swimmers of all time in this exciting addition to the Who HQ Now series featuring newsmakers and trending topics. Katie Ledecky began swimming competitively at age six after watching her mother and brother in the pool. By age fifteen, she was setting records and winning gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics. And with each year, Katie improved her skills and her times in the water! The Summer 2024 Olympics in Paris will be Katie's fourth, and the world will be watching. With over seven Olympic gold medals, nineteen World Championship gold medals, and twenty-two overall medals at the World Aquatics Championships to her name, Katie has become the most decorated female swimmer in the world. Her charming spirit and impressive athletic skills have made Katie a popular role model for young swimmers, and everyone is eager to see what she achieves in the future. James Buckley Jr. has written more than 50 books for kids, including Who Was Jim Thorpe? and Who Was Pelé? Laurie A. Conley is an illustrator who loves bringing scenes to life with both traditional and digital ink. She specializes in illustrating historical fiction and non-fiction books for kids, and also enjoys drawing whimsical haunted house portraits and other gently spooky art. Laurie earned a BFA from Syracuse University and has worked professionally for over 30 years. She and her husband live in Maryland with their youngest son in their long-time family home. Who Is Katie Ledecky?   BONNNG! It was the women’s 800-meter freestyle race at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and the electronic starting signal had just sent the swimmers diving into the water. Eight competitors would speed through sixteen laps in the 50--meter pool. The water splashed high into the air as the athletes swung their arms quickly. White water churned behind them as they kicked hard over and over. When they reached each end of the pool, the swimmers did a flip, pushed off the wall, and started back.   Many of the fans who had packed into the London Aquatics Centre were born and raised in England. They were cheering for Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain, who was favored to win. She had won the gold medal in the 2008 Games and planned to defend her title. By the third lap, though, another one of the swimmers began to edge ahead of the rest. It was Katie Ledecky from the United States, and her lead grew as the athletes continued, lap after lap. With each stroke, Katie got closer to victory, even as the crowd cheered for her rival.   As she turned toward the last lap, the surprise star was far in the lead. When Katie finally touched the wall at the finish, she had set a new American record. She looked up, water dripping off her swim cap. She pulled off her goggles and looked at the scoreboard with a big smile that would soon become world-famous. She had won! At only fifteen years old, she was an Olympic champion, the second--youngest American woman ever to win an individual gold in any event! She waved at her parents, who were cheering in the stands.   “I went out fast,” Katie said afterward. “I was able to hold on, and that’s what I’ve been working on. I didn’t really expect gold, but I’ll take it!”   That work had started when Katie was six years old, and her continued dedication has led to one of the greatest careers in swimming history. Katie has gone from being a teen star to a seasoned veteran. Along the way, she has inspired young swimmers and teammates alike with her positive attitude and fierce determination. Let’s dive in and meet one of the world’s greatest swimmers!     Chapter 1 Future Olympian   Kathleen Ledecky was born in Washington, DC, on March 17, 1997, and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland. Her father, David, and the rest of her family quickly nicknamed her Katie. The Ledeckys enjoyed swimming, partly because Katie’s mother, Mary Gen, had been a swimmer in college. Katie’s older brother, Michael, was the first to take part in swimming races. When Katie turned six, she joined Michael at the Palisades Swim & Tennis Club near the family home. A video of six-year-old Katie shows her after her first race saying that she could not wait to race again!   Swimming was not the only sport in Katie’s life. She also enjoyed watching baseball and hockey. Her uncle, Jon, was part--owner of the Washington Capitals hockey team, so she would often go to their games, hoping to see her favorite player, Adam Oates. While attending one of these games, Katie began playing peekaboo with another fan who was sitting behind her in the stands. It turned out to be National Basketball Association (NBA) legend Michael Jordan!   But Michael Jordan was not the only famous athlete Katie met when she was a child. At a swim meet when she was very young, Katie met and got an autograph from Michael Phelps, a world champion swimmer who also grew up in Maryland. For young Katie, he bec