Caitlin Clark Starring at US Swimming Olympic Trials Got Iconic Shoutout from Katie Ledecky: “Pretty Cool”

The U.S. Swimming Trials are currently underway at Lucas Oil Field, Indianapolis with a flourish. The event commenced on the 15th and will go on until 23rd June. Katie Ledecky has been making heads turn by dominating throughout the event. The 10-time Olympic medalist has claimed three victories in the trials. In her most recent win, Ledecky was 20 seconds ahead of her competition. She clinched a gold in the 1500m freestyle at 15:37.35 on the clock! 

While she has been adding more excitement to the star-studded trials, fans witnessed a surprising twist on Tuesday at the stadium. In what’s been called an epic crossover, Caitlin Clark, along with her Indiana Fever teammates, made their way over to watch the trials. Fans and athletes alike were over the moon as America’s swimming sweetheart Katie Ledecky was as awestruck as the rest of us to watch the towering basketball sweetheart.  

Katie Ledecky sheds light on what this moment meant to women’s sport

The trials aren’t privy to a thrilling show. But Tuesday night saw a unique show of sportsmanship. Post her exhilarating race, Katie Ledecky expressed what it was like having Clark and Indiana Fever at the Trials. OnHerTurf shared it on their Instagram, captioned “For Katie Ledecky, having the Indiana Fever at #SwimTrials24 was just another example of this awesome time in women’s sports. 🙌 (🎥 @indianafever)” The swimming icon was stoked! 

Ledecky reflects on the moment, stating “It was really nice that they came out to support the swimming event. And it looked like they had a great time, so that’s great as well.” Despite coming from two completely different sports, it was endearing watching the camaraderie the athletes share. Ledecky pointed out how they had a game at 7 along with the swim meet taking place at the same time. She highlighted how she was amazed at the crowd present for the trials. 

She continues, “And you know, it’s great to be a part of an exciting time in women’s sport. Caitlin is obviously drawing a lot of attention and the WNBA and college basketball and college sports in general.” This shout out from one icon to another highlights the significance of women’s sports and the visibility each of them has brought on. 

Ledecky finally concludes by saying, “A lot of great female athletes on Team USA, and we want to do our part and make everyone very proud back home when we’re in Paris.” This will be Ledecky’s fourth run in the Summer Games. From what fans have seen at the Trials so far, they’re expecting her to return to the States with a few more Olympic golds to her name. 

Indiana Fever’s thrilling appearance at the U.S. Swimming Trials

The Lucas Oil Stadium has had its fair share of excitement throughout the trials. But the Indiana Fever team added to the excitement by showing up to support the swim team. Ahead of their home game against the Washington Mystics, Tuesday happened to be the team’s day off. Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and the rest of the crew decided to make the trip from their usual home ground at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The team was welcomed with a thunderous applause as their names were announced in the stadium. Fans even witnessed Clark playfully dipping her fingers in the pool. She later admitted she just wanted to check what the water temp would be like. She later claimed, “It seemed pretty warm, I guess.” Many fans enjoyed watching this heartwarming moment unfold. The general consensus on social media dubbed this as the “Viral Moment of the Year.”

Their attendance at the U.S. Swimming Trials along with Ledecky’s thoughts perfectly summarizes what the fans have to look forward to. The crossover was a celebration of athletes supporting each other. As we approach the 2024 Paris Olympics, fans will be looking forward to an equally thrilling atmosphere and more instances of beautiful moments like this.