Katie Ledecky Joins Simone Biles, Michael Jordan and List of Iconic Olympians in Being Honored by Presidential Medal of Freedom

In her 10 Olympic medals and 16 world championship gold medals, Katie Ledecky was described as the unparalleled champion in the swimming sport. On receiving those medals, she often found herself among competitors like Kate Zeigler, Jazmin Carlin, and Summer McIntosh. However, On May 3, Katie Ledecky received a coveted title; there she didn’t have any competitors. Rather, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom hanging around her neck, she entered the list of legendary champions showcasing names like Simone Biles, Michael Jordan, Jesse Owens, and others. The White House depicted her exceptionally when announcing her name for the medal. 

“A humble leader, Olympian and champion of unparalleled determination, Katie Ledecky is the most decorated female swimmer in history, with 10 Olympic medals and counting,” the White House notified. With that, in its further admiration, the White House talked about Katie Ledecky’s ”perseverance and strength that shines for the nation and for the world”. President Joe Biden displayed his fandom for the standout swimmer before awarding her with the medal. In his admittance, the President crafted a paean and compared Katie Ledecky’s fourth Olympic endeavor with his second term seeking for the Presidential post. But in the meantime, words like “Don’t let age get in your way. Katie, age is just a number, kid,” remained a pure form of motivation for her. The legendary freestyler couldn’t hide her joy after receiving such a huge notation just before the Paris Olympics. 

Katie Ledecky was born in Washington D. C. and raised in Bethesda. The place remained in her heart for introducing her to swimming in her childhood. So while engaging in the Olympic preparation in Florida, Katie didn’t take much time to hop in D. C. to accept the medal in a place where she nurtures a deep bond. “Obviously, growing up in this area, I know what a huge honor this is. I feel very connected to this area. I know this is a national kind of award, but to me it feels almost local. I get to come home for this for a couple of days. This is my community,” she echoed the sentiment later.

With achieving the title, Katie possibly becomes the first swimmer in the glorious history of 61 years of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Presently, the 27-year-old swimmer is eyeing the upcoming US Olympic swimming trial in the Lucas Oil Stadium. Her preparation schedule may look tougher at times! 

Katie Ledecky is steps away from claiming almost everything 

Since her first Olympic contest in 2012, Katy Ledecky has been continuing to set new benchmarks. Till now she has 10 Olympic medals and 26 world championship medals (most by any swimmer)! However, even after such stature, the former Florida Gator shows no sign of dropping her guard. Such an iron-cast will put her among the first rung of the swimmers, irrespective of the time. Her dedication toward the sport has been unwavering- it was spotted when she continued her twice-a-day training regime while off to Washington D. C. to take the Presidential Medal of Freedom! It was her mere 72-hour trip. All this while, she is chasing history again. 

While finding her distance with the record book, Katie Ledecky finds Jenny Thompson now. Jenny holds 12 Olympic medals, the most by any female swimmer. Well, Katie Ledecky needs three now to surpass her. The probability is high, as Katie will participate in 4 Olympic events in Paris. Furthermore, she has already announced her wish to continue to the 2028 LA Olympics. So, again, we are living in the Katie Ledecky era!