It's Official: Katie Ledecky Will Swim in Her 3rd Olympic Games This Summer
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Two-time Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky will now be a three-timer after securing her ticket to Tokyo in four events at the 2021 US Olympic Swimming Trials. They are, in the order of when they took place this week, the women's 400-meter, 200-meter, 1,500-meter, and 800-meter freestyle.
"In the ready room, I had this moment. It was like surreal that we're even here," the six-time Olympic medalist said after that first final in the 400-meter on June 14. "It just was a great feeling to be there and to lock in my spot." Locking in three other spots sure does make for a successful week! She noted after the 800-meter freestyle, her last race at Trials, that she is excited about the team taking shape for the Games.
Ledecky, the most-decorated woman athlete of the 2016 Olympic Games, told POPSUGAR she won't stop here. She hopes to swim in the Paris Olympic Games and, perhaps, in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, too.
Ahead, check out Ledecky's qualifying races at the Olympic Trials. She dominated, as per usual, and we can't wait to see her compete for gold this summer!
To learn more about all the Olympic hopefuls, visit TeamUSA.org. The Tokyo Olympics begin July 23 on NBC.
Watch Katie Ledecky Qualify For an Olympic Spot in the 400m Freestyle
Ledecky's 4:01.27 finish wasn't as fast as she expected. She said at the end of her swim, "It's pretty tough for the first race here. I always remember five years ago, it was not a fun race. It's just good to check the box and hopefully have some good swims the rest of the week." Paige Madden, 22, finished second to Ledecky.
Watch Katie Ledecky Qualify For an Olympic Spot in the 200m Freestyle
Ledecky finished first with a time of 1:55.11, followed by Allison Schmitt, who qualified for her whopping fourth Olympic Games.
Watch Katie Ledecky Qualify For an Olympic Spot in the 1,500m Freestyle
This event will make its Olympic debut for women swimmers in Tokyo, and Ledecky won the final in 15:40.50, the fastest time in the world this year for the 1,500-meter. Erica Sullivan came in second.
Ledecky said after the race that she was ready to "take care of business" in the 1,500-meter and 200-meter finals — and that she did!
Watch Katie Ledecky Qualify For an Olympic Spot in the 800m Freestyle
Ledecky owns the top 23 fastest times in this event for women, and though her time wasn't close to those records, she still came out victorious and finished in 8:14.62. Katie Grimes, just 15 years old, finished second. She is the youngest Olympic swimmer from the US since Ledecky made her Olympic debut in 2012, according to NBC Sports.