Katie Ledecky is surely turning out to be the Michael Phelps of female swimming. With 14 Olympic medals to her name, 9 of which are gold, Ledecky has etched her name into swimming folklore. And much like Phelps, the 27-year-old star swimmer too is receiving honors that only further cement her position as a living legend. In the latest felicitation ceremony, Ledecky went back to her childhood, Bethesda’s Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Montgomery County. Apart from interacting with the students and authorities, Ledecky was also presented with a couple of huge honors. 

Firstly, she got a proclamation that stated Thursday as ‘Katie Ledecky Day’. And to top it off, the 27-year-old also got a street named after her by her alma mater. This was an incredible feat to achieve, as only a handful had been lucky enough to receive the same. Taking to her Instagram, the Olympic gold medalist uploaded a picture of herself with the sign reading, ‘Katie Ledecky Lane’. She expressed her gratitude by captioning the post, “Thanks@mococouncilmd for the recognition and celebration today! I appreciate the cheers from everyone in Montgomery County all these years.”

To give some context, Cedar Lane in front of Ledecky’s school was renamed after her. Coincidentally, American swimming legend Michael Phelps also received a similar honor for his deeds in the chlorine-soaked waters. After Phelps’ antics in the 2004 Athens Olympics, his childhood school, Towson High School, renamed a lane as ‘Michael Phelps Way’ to honor the extraordinary achievements of the legendary swimmer.

And that was not all. Phelps also featured among the 35 swimmers that downtown Indianapolis decided to rename their streets after. Featuring the likes of Duke Kahahamoku, Missy Franklin, Allison Schmitt, and more, Phelps had 55th street named ‘Michael Phelps Place’ to further glorify his impeccable deeds. 

Coming back to Ledecky, she also received a citation that honored her contribution to the sport. This was presented to the female swimming legend from the Maryland General Assembly by Sarah Wolek and Teresa Woorman. Overwhelmed by the pouring honors coming her way, an emotional Ledecky said, “It’s pretty neat to have a street named after me… Hopefully, anyone that drives by it will think of the work that I’ve put in and how much I love swimming … and hopefully, that can brighten their day when they drive by it and inspire them to reach for their goals.” And with all the goodness coming in for Katie Ledecky, fans too joined in to hail the living legend.

Katie Ledecky receives overwhelming love from her fans

Soon after the news of Ledecky receiving such incredible honors, fans could not stop themselves from praising the Olympian. They quickly flocked to the comment section and ushered the legendary swimmer with lots of love. 

The pathway has been named ‘Katie Ledecky Lane’, and while showering love for the extraordinary swimmer, one commenter had a different observation to share. The user reflected on the double meaning of the word ‘lane’ here. On one hand, it refers to the road, while on the other it can also remind one of the swimming lanes symbolizing her dominance in the sport. “Love that “lane” has a double meaning for the road and a swimming lane 😜”, wrote the user.

Reflecting fans’ admiration for Katie Ledecky’s extraordinary achievements and the new feather that was added to her cap, one netizen commented, “So well deserved” Given her status as one of the greatest female swimmers, with 14 Olympic medals, fans believe her hard work, dedication, and accomplishments merit such recognition. Another fan echoed the same emotion and wrote, “So proud of you ,🐐👑👏” They also referred to Ledecky as the GOAT using emojis for her indomitable form on the pool.

Katie has been loved by her admirers not just because of the medals that she shoulders but also for the character she is. Her graciousness, and humility. The commenter wrote, “Love you “not just for what you’ve accomplished but for who you are”. Ledecky inspires her fans and budding athletes with her strength and grit in and out of the pool.

Expressing pride and love one local resident shared excitement as a local hero and a legendary swimmer received recognition from their hometown. “I’m from Montgomery County! I love that you’re being honored there ! 🌝”, commented the netizen. Such a comment further highlights the emotional connection that thrives between the swimmer and her hometown and alma mater. That emotional bond enhances the sentiment and beauty of the tribute even more. 

Thus, with Ledecky growing in stature, it now remains to be seen how far she can extend her legendary run in the future. And with the LA28 surely playing in her mind, swimming fans might just be in for yet another gold rush in Los Angeles.