“Racing Is Tough”: Katie Ledecky Voices the ‘Lonely’ Side of Glory Ahead of Paris Olympics

Katie Ledecky has established herself as one of the most prominent global athletes over the years. With remarkable achievements in the pool, she has earned the status of a ‘legend’ at a young age. In addition to her success as a swimmer, Ledecky is renowned for her candid personality and speaking her mind on certain things. Currently, the 26-year-old American prodigy is focused on training for her fourth consecutive appearance at the Paris Olympics.

In a recent interview, Ledecky shared insights into the challenges of maintaining her position at the top and coping with the high expectations placed on her while finding a way to inspire others.

Katie Ledecky shares some inside secrets

As reported by USA Today, she is anticipated to once again bring glory to America at the Olympics, and she’s putting in the hard work in the pool to make everything count. Yet she will face formidable challenges from other athletes too. Talking about which, she said, “Racing is tough, and there are a lot of great athletes out there. I know I have to be on top of my game in a couple months.” She further talked about the expectations that people have of her and added, “I know there are expectations, but I stay very focused on my personal expectations, which are probably just as high or higher than anyone else’s.”

The American swimming phenom also mentioned that she’s ticking all the boxes in training to meet her fans’ expectations. As a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, she expressed her commitment to continue swimming regardless of the outcomes at the Paris Olympics. Alongside her efforts, she aims to inspire female athletes to pursue sports as a career. To achieve this goal, she has teamed up with a multimillion-dollar brand to empower women athletes.

Empowering athletes, one girl at a time

The Washington, DC-based swimmer signed a deal with women’s performance, lifestyle, and sports apparel giant Athleta on Friday. Now she will be a member of the “Power of She Collective” initiative of Athleta, which supports organizations empowering women and girls through sports and movement. Ledecky will also be serving as a consultant of Athleta’s The Power of She Fund which helps women athletes.

Read More: Katie Ledecky Hopes Her Tokyo Olympics 2020 Story ‘Inspires’ Young American Women to Dream Big

Speaking about her partnership with the brand, the swimming prodigy added that she has been a fancier of Athleta’s commitment to empowering women athletes. Now the American legend will be seen doing her magic in the pool in Paris, where she is expected to achieve yet another milestone as a women’s 800 and 1,500 freestyle winner.

Watch this story: Olympic Legends Simone Phelps, Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky Hangout With Gold Medals Around Their Neck