Dara Torres Will Always Be a Swimming Legend, but Katie Ledecky’s Paris Olympics Ticket Echoes Fresh Legacy

In Indianapolis, when Katie Ledecky will try to secure her Paris Olympics ticket for the rest of her events, she would keep an eye on an Olympic record. It is about having the most number of Olympic swimming medals in the women’s category. Katie Ledecky is currently standing just two medals shorter than her predecessor Dara Torres’ record (12 medals). Now, after confirming the 400m free event qualification, Katie will head to three more events to take further steps toward touching the record. But will she be able to replace her predecessor’s legacy? 

A lot of things are at stake right now from that perspective. Above all, both Dara Torres and Katie Ledecky have things to say about leaving footmarks in the sport. 

Today Katie Ledecky achieved her 4th Olympic qualification after winning the 400m free LC event. The dominance remained never shy as her timing today proved a thorough improvement from her prelims performance at the earlier hours. However, a champion of her stature expects such an improvement. Last year, when she registered her record-making 1500 free timing in the Phillips 66 National Championships, she hinted at bringing her super A-game in the coming days. 

It was the occasion when the 27-year-old swimmer set another 1500m record. Still, she looked forward to having another. In her statement, Katie confirmed by asserting, “There’s a lot more to come.” Noteworthy, in the 1500m record book, the Olympian reigns over 15 records. Such a highly motivated run makes her a chief contender to earn the Paris Olympics qualification and a medal subsequently. However, in her high time, Dara Torres had never been seen around Katie’s trademark events. But she maintained her highly inspiring form in other ways. 

In her five Olympic appearances, Dara achieved 12 Olympic medals and 3 of those medals came in her 41 years of age. Thus, she has her legacy set at the ground of experience and the never-say-die mindset. Furthermore, her presence in the camp used to bring a lot of things to the table and one of those was fitness. 

After her participation in the Barcelona Olympics, Dara Torres had bidden her goodbye to swimming. But the attachment to the sport brought her back to the Sydney Olympics. Stunningly, she never left empty-handed from any of her Olympic participation. In Sydney and  8 years later, in the Beijing Olympics, she achieved the fame of being the oldest American swimmer to clinch Olympic medals. Simultaneously, her fitness did not disappoint her on this journey. Astonishingly, Dara Torres entered the Beijing Olympics two years after her pregnancy. And she left the floor with three medals. 

The mindsets of both swimmers cross each other in several ways. Still, they stand tall in their own rights. Dara Torres had some special words for Katie Ledecky once. 

Dara Torres’ wholehearted praise for Katie Ledecky

Offering her perspective on Katie Ledecky’s prowess, Dara Torres had a lot of positive things to add. In a conversation with SiriusXM Sports in 2017, the veteran termed Katie the ‘special’ one. In a judicious tone, she backed the long course luminary’s chances for being equally penetrative in both the anchor leg in the relay events and in the events like 800m and 1500m free. 

Furthering her praise for the swimmer, Dara Torres added, “She [Katie Ledecky] just has this perspective on what she needs to do on her goals and accomplishments”. According to her, such qualities have come because of Katie’s mental strength. That aptly proves the reason behind the Bethesda-native swimmer’s long glittery run on the highest stage of the sport. 

Eventually, it could lead her to dissipate Dara Torres from the throne of being the highest medal achiever as an American female swimmer. Katie is already counting her Los Angeles Olympic participation four years later while moving on to winning the Paris Olympics qualification. But Dara Torres will remain the harbinger of the route that was once established by her.