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Katie Ledecky opens up about prioritizing her swimming career over relationships, focusing on achieving greatness while remaining open to future possibilities.
Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky has built a legacy as one of the greatest athletes in the history of swimming.
With fourteen Olympic medals and world records in the 800m and 1500m freestyle, the 27-year-old American has consistently demonstrated her focus and dedication to the sport.
Recently, Ledecky opened up about a different side of her journey—one that involves her mindset on relationships and how her pursuit of excellence in swimming has influenced her personal life.
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During an appearance on the Unfiltered Waters podcast, hosted by fellow Olympians Katie Hoff and Missy Franklin, Ledecky candidly discussed her decisions regarding relationships and how her drive for "greatness" in the sport has shaped her life choices.
She acknowledged that while relationships are important, they have not been a primary focus for her, given her ambitions in swimming.
"I talk about some of the decisions I have made over the years," Ledecky shared.
"I mean I talked about the one school dance that I went to. I talked about the fact that I've never had a drink, just some of the decisions that I've made that I don't really see as sacrifices, I just see as decisions that I made because I want to be great in my sport and I decided that here are the list of things I want to do to achieve my goals."
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The conversation offered a rare glimpse into Ledecky's personal philosophy.
She emphasized that her choices were not burdens, but rather steps toward achieving her best in swimming.
Despite her rigorous focus on the sport, Ledecky expressed that she is not entirely dismissing the idea of relationships in her life.
"Of course, I would love to date someone sometime and have a relationship," Ledecky explained.
"I'd love to have kids someday, so, I know that time will come. I'm not just putting that aside for swimming, but it's just not something I'm overly stressed about right now or happen and then always trying to make decisions that are healthy."
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This revelation comes on the heels of Ledecky’s incredible performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she added to her already illustrious career by winning four medals, including two golds.
Her victory in the 800m freestyle event was particularly momentous, as it marked her fourth consecutive Olympic gold in that race—a feat few athletes ever achieve.
Reflecting on her accomplishments in Paris, Ledecky noted how special her 800m win felt to her.
"I think here in Paris, the one that meant the most to me was the 800m free. Just being able to four-peat in that event was pretty special. So, yeah, each one has a different story to it, different meaning, but I'm really happy with how all of my events went this week," she said in a separate interview with NBC6.
Ledecky has credited her success to the excellent training and coaching she has received over the years.
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Following the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won several more medals, Ledecky made a pivotal decision to move her training base from Stanford University to the University of Florida.
"I had five really great years at Stanford, had some amazing time swimming, both collegiately and professionally," Ledecky said.
"After Tokyo, I had already completed my degree at Stanford, and so was feeling an itch to get back closer to home, and there's a really great training group down at the University of Florida now."
With 50 total medals across the Olympics, World Championships, and Pan Pacific Championships, Ledecky’s career is a testament to her singular focus on the sport.
While she remains open to the idea of relationships in the future, her priority for now remains swimming, where she continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the pool.
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