Not Summer McIntosh, but This US Swimmer Who Defeated Katie Ledecky Left a Message for the GOAT Before Paris Olympics

In January, applause was loud as Katie Ledecky competed at a sectional meet in Orlando. However, this excitement quickly turned into disappointment for Ledecky’s fans. Her 13-year unbeaten record in the 800-meter freestyle was ended by 17-year-old Summer McIntosh, who finished almost six seconds ahead of her. Fans might believe this was the first instance of Ledecky’s record being surpassed. In reality, it had been exceeded a year earlier by another 17-year-old at the time, Katie Grimes.

A year ago, Katie Grimes outperformed Katie Ledecky in the 400 IM event at the Pro Swim Series held in Knoxville. Grimes, who holds the world silver medal, claimed victory with a time of 4:35.92, compared to Ledecky’s 4:36.09. “I knew she was coming, so I just tried to give it everything I had, ” remarked Grimes afterward. “I definitely felt it in my legs. I just put my head down and tried not to look over there.” Fast forward to today, both Katie Grimes and Katie Ledecky have successfully secured their spots for the Paris Olympics after delivering remarkable performances during the trials.

Katie Grimes gained attention when she participated in the 2020 Olympics at the age of 15, representing Team USA as an athlete and securing her spot as the first American qualifier for the 2024 Games. She has mentioned relying on fellow swimmers, such as Katie Ledecky, for encouragement. In 2021, Grimes joined forces with Ledecky to form ‘Katie Squared,’ a nickname coined by Ledecky for their partnership. However, Grimes has also expressed admiration for Ledecky, acknowledging her as a source of inspiration.

“She’s been in the sport forever, and she’s done just about everything. So being able to see her poise and class when it comes to interviews or anything after the race—being able to see how she handles that was important for me to see,” Grimes recalled, reflecting on Katie Ledecky’s influence. She added how Ledecky encouraged her in Tokyo. “To know that I have someone next to me that I could lean on was super important,” Grimes says. Now, both of them are gearing up for the Olympics. However, after Tokyo, she didn’t stop there.

Katie Grimes Olympic journey of success and growth

Building on this success, Grimes continued to shine, securing four individual medals at the subsequent two World Championships, including a bronze in the 10km open water swim at Fukuoka 2023. Her outstanding achievements not only solidified her position as a rising star but also made her the first US athlete across all sports to secure an Olympic quota for Paris 2024.

At 18 years old, Grimes is gearing up for the Paris Olympics with a sense of maturity and confidence. Despite feeling the pressure of expectations, she welcomes the challenge, aware of her personal goals and abilities. Grimes acknowledges her growth since her debut, both in terms of strength and understanding the grandeur of the stage. With a strong connection to her coach and a clear vision of her journey, she gracefully handles the spotlight of competitive swimming with joy, remaining loyal to her passion for the sport and her relentless drive for success.