Katie Ledecky is a name synonymous with swimming excellence. She has been absolutely dominant for years now and has been a face of the United States since the beginning of her career. Ledecky has framed ten Olympic medals and 16 world championship titles on her wall of fame. Living by the reputation of the most decorated distance swimmer in history, that also makes her an inspiration for others.

But here is the big question: what exactly inspires her that keeps her going, and what is it that makes her so successful? Is there any divine connection behind that? Well, there certainly is, if the Washington, DC, native is to be believed. So let’s delve deeper and find out the religious side of America’s swimming icon.

Katie Ledecky believes her faith in God plays a role in her success

As reported by Catholic Standard, Ledecky is a theist; she holds the utmost faith in God, and she also acknowledges the almighty for being the driving force behind her. Shedding light on her Catholic beliefs, the swimmer states, “My Catholic faith is very important to me. It always has been and it always will be. It is part of who I am and I feel comfortable practicing my faith. It helps me put things in perspective.” In 2012, Ledecky grabbed the spotlight after she became the youngest ever athlete to make it to the list of the United States Olympic team at the tender age of fifteen, and she has never looked back ever since.

Ledecky also revealed that to stay in touch with her religious side, she has attended Catholic schools since her pre-kindergarten days. She also added that attending these schools shaped her as a human and inspired her to serve others. Furthermore, attending these schools helped her focus on swimming more precisely and allowed her to engage her mind beyond the realm of swim practices, meets, and sports as well. There is more to her religious side, and there is a special ritual that she follows before hitting the pool during the competitions.

One religious practice that Katie Ledecky follows before every race

On being asked about saying “Hail Mary” before stepping in the pool before her competitive event, Ledecky replied that she does recite prayers before her races. She added that Hail Mary is a beautiful prayer, and the prayer calms her soul. Her unwavering dominance in her swimming career showcases the impact of her connection to her religious beliefs, propelling her to become a superstar sensation in the United States’ swimming scene.

Read More: “She’s That Kind of Person”: US Olympic Gold Medalist Decodes Katie Ledecky’s Swimming Legacy

Well, Katie Ledecky’s fans must have their fingers crossed that she’ll keep going at the same pace and keep touching that finishing pad on time to bring more honors to the US. While her stars look aligned and Ledecky looks all set for the upcoming Paris Olympics, she is surely going to be an athlete to keep an eye on, and fans will be cheering for her at the top of their lungs.