Katie Ledecky: My Role Model

Katie Ledecky, a swimmer, was one of many Americans that participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Katie was born on March 17th, to David and Mary Ledecky. David was a lawyer, while Mary was a hospital administrator, and a former swimmer, which is where Katie got her passion for swimming. I choose Katie, because I’m a swimmer and she is my role model. I want to be as good as her someday.

At the age of six, Katie began her swimming career, when she joined a local summer swim league. As Katie became a stronger swimmer, she joined the Nation’s Capital Swim Club under coach Yuri Suguiyama. Katie was a standout in the swim club, but there was a problem, Katie was not kicking hard enough. This problem was resolved, when Yuri taught Katie a kicking
Junior Championships, winning in the 400-, 800-, and 1,500-meter freestyle events. In 2012, Katie went to the Olympic Trials. She competed in the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle events. Although she worked hard competing in all three of those events, Katie only qualified for the 800-meter freestyle. This made her the youngest member of the U.S. team, at 15 years old.

In London, Katie won gold, also breaking the American record, her time being 8:14.63. After the race, Katie was interviewed. She said: “I knew if I put my mind to it, I could do it. I wasn’t intimidated at all.”

Bruce Gemmell took over Yuri Suguiyama’s coaching position in 2013. Making her the best swimmer that she can be. Under his instruction, Katie has broken many records, including American, world, and career records. In the 2013 World Aquatic Championships, in Barcelona, Katie swam in four events, winning gold in all. In the 400-meter freestyle, Katie won the American record, with a time of 3:59.82. She broke world records in both the 800-meter freestyle, with a time of 8:13.86 and in the 1,500-meter freestyle, with a time of 15:36.53. The time for the 4 by 200-meter freestyle relay was 7:45.14. However, a record wasn’t broken in this event. Overall, Katie scored the most points, winning the FINA trophy, and being named FINA’s best female swimmer of the
There, she competed in five events, where again, she took home gold in all five and she was the first woman to take home four individual gold medals in a single Pan Championship. She beat her career record in the 200-meter freestyle, with a time of 1:55.74. In the 400-meter freestyle, she beat the world record, her time being 3:58.37. Another career record was beat in the 800-meter freestyle, with a time of 8:11.35. Katie also beat another world record, this time in the 1,500-meter freestyle relay, with a time of 15:28.36. In the 4 by 200-meter relay, Katie beat her career record, with a time of