Female ‘Michael Phelps’ Katie Ledecky Rejected $5 Million to Pursue a Dream Outside Swimming World Back in 2016

Sep 17, 2022 | 12:30 PM EDT

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Katie Ledecky might be young, but she already ruling the world of competitive swimming. Born in 1997, this 25-year-old swimmer made her Olympic debut in 2012 in the 800-meter freestyle event. She won her first medal, a gold, at the same event itself. And, over the years her performance has been nothing short of phenomenal. She was even featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated with other achievers like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles.

But, if one thing is to be said about this talent, it is that she loves to live on her own terms. After her 2016 Rio Olympics, she decided that she wanted to go for a college education first. She took admission to Stanford and made a decision to still compete as an amateur. But, by deciding to pursue a college education first, Ledecky missed out on some pretty big things.

Katie Ledecky turned down impressive offers to pursue her college dreams

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Her awesome performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics opened doors of opportunities for Katie. She was the youngest swimmer on USA’s team and bagged 6 medals including 4 gold. She was also called “the female Michael Phelps.” In an interview, Katie discussed her plans for pursuing future education and added that choosing to be a college-level athlete wasn’t that hard.

But, that decision is quite substantial in the athletic world because winning medals at the Olympics is a ticket to sponsorships. And, her total valuation of sponsorship wasn’t paltry either.

It was estimated that if Katie took up the offers, she could make up to 5 million USD per year.

But, she herself spoke out her thoughts about choosing Stanford, “I’ve always wanted to swim collegiately and have that experience. I think it is going to be a lot of fun to be on a team.” Now, all eyes are set on her return.

The young achievers at Olympics

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Katie was one of the names of the young achievers who’ve graced the Olympics stage. Even while considering swimming, names like David Popovici and Kyoko Iwasaki have come to the forefront for their impeccable performances. Some of them have had the chance to swim beside stars like Phelps and even earned fans along the way.

Keep it movin’ 🇺🇸
10 years on from London 2012 @jonurb pic.twitter.com/VjENT9zIPU
— Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky) July 22, 2022

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And, now with technology and social media, fans can keep connected with their icons. Even when they are not actively competing. In a way this would fare well for Ledecky whose swollen socials would ensure her a strong fanbase to cheer on when she returns to the pool next time.

WATCH THIS STORY: Inside Swimming Legend Michael Phelps And Nicole Johnson’s Secret Marriage