Imagine two of the most decorated athletes in history standing side by side—one towering over the other, quite literally. That’s exactly what happened when Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles met. While the playful comparisons between them made headlines, both the stars had faced significant challenges to make it to the podium in Paris.

Despite this hurdle, both stars dazzled at the 2024 Paris Games, each bringing home four medals. Biles clinched three golds and a silver, while Ledecky secured two golds, a silver, and a bronze. Though Simone’s gold medal count outshone Ledecky’s in one way, Ledecky’s towering presence over her at the meet had fans buzzing with excitement!

Recently, r/Gymnastics shared a striking photo of Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles, captioning it, “Two amazing athletes who both deserve the recognition. The height difference tho.” The snap, from a unique Athleta photoshoot, shows the duo rocking matching black turtlenecks with “Power of She” emblazoned across them and stylish black pants. Biles flaunts her signature GOAT necklace while the Eiffel Tower peeks in the background, hinting they snapped this gem after the Paris Olympics.

Not just posing for the camera, both athletes also dazzled at the Games, each snagging four medals—Biles with three golds and a silver, and Ledecky with two golds, a silver, and a bronze. Biles shared the photo on Instagram, proudly captioning it, “Power of she = the new gold standard,” with a sprinkle of sparkle emojis.

Two amazing athletes who both deserve the recognition. The height difference tho
byu/Suspicious-Peace9233 inGymnastics

Their victories didn’t come without a fight. Simone Biles overcame the daunting “twisties” during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, turning those setbacks into fuel for her stunning return at the 2024 Paris Games. Katie Ledecky, on the other hand, faced her own battle with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition causing lightheadedness and fainting. Though she first felt symptoms back in 2015, she only recently opened up about her diagnosis.

In a candid chat with Women’s Health, Ledecky shared, “When I first received the diagnosis, I was very focused on the numbers—how much I was hydrating and what I was fueling my body with. But now I kind of have all these years of experience that I know how much I need to hydrate, how much protein I need after racing, how much sleep I’m getting.” Thanks to her meticulous adjustments to hydration, nutrition, and sleep, Ledecky proudly declared she “hasn’t had any issues” since her diagnosis.

Post-Olympics, Ledecky is taking a well-deserved break with family and friends in suburban DC. Meanwhile, Ledecky’s partnership with Athleta is creating buzz. The brand, which gained serious traction from its Olympic presence, is renovating 35 of its 270 stores to up its shopping game.

And get this—September will see Athleta drop a new capsule collection designed by Simone Biles for the “Gold Over America” gymnastics tour. Biles’ first multigenerational line with Athleta will feature five pieces for women, two for girls, and a stylish belt bag. Fans are all in, celebrating the collab and playfully noting the height difference between the two powerhouse athletes.

Fans buzz over the height difference between Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles

Fans have been buzzing about a photo of Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles that’s making the rounds on Reddit. The snapshot highlights their epic height difference, sparking some hilarious comments. One fan jokingly compared Simone Biles’s height to the Eiffel Tower, saying, “The Eiffel Tower is helping Simone out 👆,” playfully suggesting that Simone’s small stature didn’t hold back her colossal achievements in gymnastics.

Another fan mused about the fun of seeing giants next to more average-sized folks, drawing a parallel to seeing Shaquille O’Neal next to shorter people. They said, “I always love seeing Shaq next to ‘average size’ people, and I also love seeing Simone next to ‘average size’ people. Human bodies come in all sizes, and it is kind of amazing! It is also cool when some people just look made for their sport of choice. Love this photo, and I love all of the powerful women who were killing it in the Olympics.” The fan also referenced a classic pic of Simone and Shaq, where a 4’8″ Biles in heels looks almost taller than the 7’1″ O’Neal. The height contrast was a hit on social media, with users enjoying the visual play.

One admirer was awestruck by the height gap, exclaiming, “The 16 inch difference I’m crying.” Despite the 6’0″ Ledecky and 4’8″ Biles’ noticeable difference, the comment highlighted that their exceptional talents aren’t overshadowed by their physical differences. A fan summed it up perfectly with, “🐐s come in all sizes,” a nod to the fact that greatness isn’t defined by height but by the sheer talent of champions like 11x Olympic medalist Simone Biles and 14x Olympic medalist Katie Ledecky. A gymnastic enthusiast commented under the post, “there are 81 world + olympic medals in this single picture 😭😭” indicating their achievements in total. Reflecting a deep sense of emotional connection showcased her overwhelming situation.

While Biles has been rocking the Athleta gear since 2021, Ledecky just signed a shiny new 5-year deal with the brand, right in time for Women’s History Month. Their partnership not only showcases Ledecky’s admiration for Athleta’s support of female athletes but also underscores her dedication to celebrating women in sports. What do you think of this dynamic duo of Athleta phenoms? Share your thoughts in the comments below!