After three incredible Olympic runs and racking up a stunning 10 Olympic medals, Katie Ledecky is heading to the Paris Olympics to extend her legendary status. The swimming phenom qualified for her fourth Olympics by crushing the 400-meter freestyle at the US Swimming Olympic Team Trials on Saturday.

Clocking in at 3:58.35 at Lucas Oil Stadium, Ledecky is gearing up to compete in three more events at the trials, with her eyes set on becoming the top female Olympic swimmer and second among all Olympic athletes. But while Ledecky is making waves in the pool, a Swedish swimming sensation is swimming laps around her in the money game.

How Katie Ledecky got out-paced in earnings by the Swedish record-breaker

According to South China Morning Post STYLE, despite Katie Ledecky’s dominance in the pool, Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom outpaces her in financial terms. Ledecky’s net worth stands at $5 million. She earns $100,000 annually from her swimming career, along with $125,000 in prize money from her Olympic medals. Ledecky, known for her selective endorsements, has collaborated with Adidas and signed a $7 million deal with sportswear company TYR.

Her net worth reflects her earnings from sponsorships, prize money, and possibly other ventures like speaking engagements and appearances. In contrast, Sarah Sjostrom has a significantly higher net worth of $12 million. She has set multiple world records and won numerous Olympic medals, including gold in the 50-meter freestyle.

Sjostrom’s dominance in the sport since her first Olympics at the age of 14 has significantly contributed to her financial success. This success is further bolstered by her earnings as the top swimmer in the 2021 International Swimming League (ISL) season, where she earned $265,125 in prize money. Additionally, her net worth is enhanced by various endorsements, including a notable partnership with Vitamin Well Sweden.

When you compare the two, Sjostrom’s net worth is more than double Ledecky’s. This difference likely comes down to Sjostrom’s longer career, bigger endorsement deals, and significant prize money from competitive swimming circuits like the ISL. Despite this financial edge, Ledecky outshines Sjostrom not just in medal count but also in speed. Let’s dive into the details!

The numbers speak for themselves

Katie Ledecky has a jaw-dropping 10 Olympic medals, seven of which are gold. Meanwhile, Sarah Sjostrom has four Olympic medals, including one gold. But it’s not just the medal count that makes Katie a legend. Ledecky holds the world records in the women’s 800- and 1500-meter freestyle, both long-course and short-course. Her records are nothing short of phenomenal: an incredible 8:07.39 in the 800-meter freestyle and a mind-blowing 15:08.24 in the 1500-meter freestyle.

On the flip side, Sjostrom is making waves as the current world record holder in the 50-meter freestyle (long course), the 100-meter freestyle (long course), and the 50-meter butterfly (long course). Her 50-meter butterfly record of 24.43 seconds continues to stun the world. However, the odds of breaking these records are pretty slim.

For Ledecky’s 800m, there’s only about a 0.465% chance that someone might swim faster. Her 1500-meter record is even more secure, with just a 0.301% chance of being beaten. Sjostrom’s 50-meter butterfly record, while exceptional, has a 0.593% probability of being surpassed. The stats suggest that Ledecky’s 800m and 1500m freestyle records are tougher to break than Sjostrom’s 50m butterfly. This is because fewer swimmers have come close to Ledecky’s times compared to those challenging Sjostrom’s mark.

And let’s not forget how Ledecky snagged a second gold in the 200-meter freestyle with a personal best of 1:53.73, beating Sjostrom by 0.35 seconds at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Reflecting on these numbers, will Ledecky’s dominance continue in Paris, and could she one day surpass Sjostrom’s net worth? Only time will tell! What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!