Katie Ledecky wrapped up an epic Paris Olympics with a shiny haul of four medals. She kicked off with a bronze in the 400m freestyle, clocking in at 4:00.86. Next, she defended her Tokyo gold in the 1500m freestyle with a stellar 15:30.02, setting an Olympic record in the process. Not one to rest on her laurels, Ledecky then snagged gold in the 800m freestyle, making history with her ninth Olympic gold medal, the most ever for a female athlete. She closed her Olympic saga with a silver in the 4x200m relay, finishing with a combined time of 7:40.86. As if that wasn’t enough, she was honored as the US team’s female flagbearer at the closing ceremony. Now, with the Games behind her, Katie’s finally taking a breather and was recently spotted living it up at the US Open.

Her presence in the stands caused quite a stir, prompting fans to urge for a photo op with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. The official US Open X account even shouted out, “Welcoming 9x Olympic gold medalist @katieledecky! 😍” Fans couldn’t get enough, with YouTube TV sharing the excitement: “This is the sports crossover of my dreams!” and another wondering, “Will we get a Katie and Iga pic??” Plus, one cheeky fan posted, “Someone needs to start a Katie Ledecky + Iga Swiatek dating rumor.” As the rumor mill buzzed, tennis fans were eager to see who Katie would team up with for a mixed doubles showdown. Ledecky made her pick—and it’s not Iga Swiatek!

Team USA Swimming dropped a video of Katie Ledecky rocking a charming blue sweater vest and a checked blue skirt. In a delightful twist, she revealed her mixed doubles partner pick: Ben Shelton, the world No. 13 and a proud University of Florida alum. “I’ll go with Ben Shelton. He’s a Gainesville native. So Go Gators!” she cheered. Katie’s choice makes perfect sense since she’s the swimming coach there.

Ben Shelton, son of former tennis pro Bryan Shelton, took an interesting route to tennis stardom. Initially drawn to football, he switched to tennis at age 12 and hasn’t looked back since. He chose to play for the Florida Gators, where his father was the coach, and it paid off big time. In 2021, Shelton clinched the NCAA team title and followed up with the NCAA singles title the next year. He credits the University of Florida with much of his growth as a player.

While his grand slam journey saw him reach the US Open semifinals last year, this season he faced a setback, exiting in the third round. Nevertheless, Shelton remains one of the standout alumni from his university, which is why Katie Ledecky chose him as her mixed doubles partner.

Interestingly, Katie was at the US Open to support a friend who was competing in the quarter-finals. This friendship blossomed during their time together in Paris, making her choice of Shelton even more meaningful. But Ben Shelton wasn’t the reason Katie headed to Arthur Ashe Stadium for the US Open 2024!

Katie Ledecky supported her new friend from the stands at the US Open

Katie Ledecky’s trip to New York City wasn’t just about catching a tennis match—she was there to cheer on fellow US Olympic athlete Emma Navarro. Navarro, who was facing off against Paula Badosa in a thrilling quarterfinal, showcased her dominance with a 6-2, 7-5 victory. The big screen even caught Ledecky celebrating the win, much to the delight of fans who were thrilled to see their Olympic hero in the stands. The two athletes became friends during the Paris Olympics, adding a personal touch to Katie’s visit.

But Ledecky’s New York adventure wasn’t all about tennis. She’s also in town promoting her memoir, Just Add Water. The book, which aims to inspire young swimmers by sharing her journey and passion for the sport, has her busy with interviews across various news outlets. As she balances supporting fellow athletes and inspiring the next generation with her memoir, Ledecky proves once again that her influence stretches well beyond the water. Fans can look forward to seeing what this incredible athlete dives into next. Maybe a collaboration that brings Katie Ledecky and Iga Swiatek together? Here’s hoping!