“You’re Not Perfect”: World’s Best Katie Ledecky Confesses Harsh Reality Check From Coach Anthony Nesty

Even the greatest athletes are always in pursuit of perfection. And for Katie Ledecky, who surpassed Michael Phelps with the most individual golds in the 2023 World Championships, it’s equally challenging, too! Despite her unparalleled dominance in the aquatic realm, with 16 individual golds in the World Championships and 7 coveted Olympic golds, Ledecky was forced to push the boundaries of her abilities even further. And now she is up to supporting the person behind her success.

Before the Tokyo Olympics, Ledecky embarked on a transformative journey driven by her aim to redefine her strength. Katie moved from Stanford to Florida to train under the able mentorship of Coach Anthony Nesty at the Gator Swim Club. But little did Ledecky know that Coach Nesty’s blunt assessment would soon give her a strong reality check. 

Coach Anthony Nesty, an Olympic medalist himself, accompanied Katie Ledecky on her journey to be the best before the Tokyo Olympics. “We’d been around each other during the five weeks of training camp in Hawaii and the Tokyo Olympics,” wrote about Ledecky in her recently published biographical novel  ‘Just Add Water: My Swimming Life.’ She further shared how she adored the way Coach Anthony Nesty managed things at Gator Swim Club. Ledecky’s mentor from Stanford, Coach Greg too supported her decision to move in order to try and better herself before she stepped onto the global stage.

However, Coach Nesty brought a new perspective to Ledecky’s training while Katie was already wearing her crown. Reflecting on her victories, Ledecky stated in her book, “I won four gold medals at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest and continued improving into 2023.” Moreover, her timing in the 800-meter freestyle has improved since the Rio Olympics 2016. “I used a longer, more effective stroke, completing sixteen lengths in 644 strokes, thirteen fewer than in Rio and thirty-two fewer than in Tokyo,” said Ledecky. But that wasn’t enough. The assessment of Coach Nesty about her technique and fitness acted like a wake-up call for Katie.

Coach Anthony Nesty did not hesitate to judge and point out the technique of the best female swimmer as “inefficient and choppy.” As Ledecky was asked to get in better shape and be “more athletic,” she was also warned of the fact that she might be listening to advice, which might not be easy for her to swallow. Coach Nesty candidly added, “I know you’re Katie Ledecky, but as good as you are, you’re not perfect.” 

Katie Ledecky celebrates Coach Nesty’s new role

After helping Katie Ledecky add more medals to her crown, Anthony Nesty has embarked on a new journey. And supporting her coach, Anthony Nesty, after his big win before the Paris Olympics, is Ledecky! 56-year-old Nesty who became the head coach of Florida Gator in the 1990s, has been finally given the golden opportunity to train the U.S. men’s swimming team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

After the news was officially announced, Ledecky took to her Instagram handle and shared a post to express her support and happiness for Coach Anthony Nesty. In her biography, Katie Ledecky praised Coach Nesty, writing, “He also understands the individuality of each of us in the club.”

Katie’s anecdote is a testament to the fact that even the best can get better. More when guided by a coach who can see beyond their accolades and push an athlete towards their untapped potential.