Katie Ledecky Explains the Importance of Failure

Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky will not compete at the Pro Swim Westmont due to illness. More accurately she said she was a bit under the weather: 11 Weeks out from World Championship Trials! 🌏 I won’t be making the trip to the Westmont #TYRProSeries meet this week after being a bit under the weather the last week…staying home to train and get 100%. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead over the next few months 💪🏼🏊🏻‍♀️

See her top times so far this season:

  • 200 free – 1:54.96, 2023 Fort Lauderdale PSS (2nd in world)
  • 400 free – 3:59.71, 2022 U.S. Open (2nd in world)
  • 800 free – 8:13.90, 2022 U.S. Open (1st in world)
  • 1500 free – 15:37.99, 2023 Knoxville PSS (1st in world)
  • 400 IM – 4:36.04, 2023 Fort Lauderdale PSS (3rd in world)

I played the Ledecky way too early prediction game back on February 13th, and I was way off in the 400m free. I called Summer 3rd with a 3:57.5. Ouch! And many of you called me out.

So, here are my new Ledecky 2023 World Championship predictions:

  • 1500 – the same – 15:28 for the gold.
  • 800 free – the same – 8:07 for the gold.
  • 400 free? Hmmmm. Many of you were right. Summer McIntosh broke through, making history in 3:56.08  at Canadian World Championship Trials.  She did that entirely alone. I think she’s faster at World Champs with Ariarne Titmus and Katie Ledecky pressing her. I think she’s 3:55.6 for gold. Titmus nears her former world record, touching in 3:56.5. And I’d love to see Ledecky swim a 3:57.3 or faster for the bronze.

Off topic, I don’t know what’s more impressive, Summer’s 3:56.08 400 free or her 4:25.87 400 IM World Record. Breaking both in long course is a first. That 400 IM certainly feels more impressive coming at the end of this long selection meet. But who care what I think? It’s all about what you think. Drop your comments below.

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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

 

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David
1 year ago

I doubt titmus goes 3:56 maybe 3:57,58

Georgia Rambler
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
1 year ago

Yes and for that reason I’m not counting her out in the 400. Because she has the ability and will to reset and move forward.

Riser
1 year ago

The women’s 400 Free in Fukuoka should be a real nail biter with Summer edging out Ariarne for first place followed by Katie coming in a close third. Would I bet the farm on it….probably not. Being that the race is on the first day of competition I’m hoping and expecting that Summer and Ariarne will be under 3:56 and Katie in the low 3:57 range. We are damn lucky to be able to witness these three women race against each other this year followed by Paris in 2024.

Mel; you are asking which one of Summer’s WR was more impressive? In my eyes they were both as equally impressive because of the names associated with both records. Hosszu,… Read more »

jim
Reply to  Riser
1 year ago

Someone is going to go out too fast and run out of gas…I just hope it’s not Katie.

Sherry Smit
1 year ago

200 Free (if swam): 1:54.09
400 Free: 3:57.86
800 Free: 8:08.42
1500 Free: 15:29.64

Lisa
Reply to  Sherry Smit
1 year ago

I’m with Mel predictions is that I think she’s gonna lowered her time from last year on the long distance events and on the 200 free, she’s probably gonna swim it on the relay probably on low 1:54 or high 1:53 .

Lisa
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
1 year ago

She’s definitely improving on long distance and that’s a good thing and the relay gonna be exciting too between USA and Australia.

Last edited 1 year ago by Lisa
Georgia Rambler
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
1 year ago

Unlike 2020, there won’t be much outside pressure on Ledecky, only her internal drive as y’all seem to have downgraded her to 3rd or even off the podium.
Titmus seems to be the most vulnerable to outside pressure. Summer will still be a teen and doesn’t seem as sensitive to outside forces yet there will be tremendous pressure on her to win every event she has entered.
In, 2012, Katie was a very dark horse, and even in 2016, Missy was expected to again be the big star though it didn’t turn out that way. If all three are in top condition in 2024, it should be a fantastic race.

Hooked on Chlorine
1 year ago

Ariarne Titmus will win. I’m already looking for a suitable GIF to represent the mix of shock and heartbreak on the faces of the Canadian fan kiddies who hate gold-medal-winning Australian swimmers almost as much as they do proper punctuation.

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
Reply to  Hooked on Chlorine
1 year ago

As a Canadian (not a kid) who thinks Summer is amazing, I just want to say that I also really love and admire many Aussie swimmers, I think Titmus is great and I think it will be a great battle between them for the next few years. We aren’t all dumb stans!

Hooked on Chlorine
Reply to  ScovaNotiaSwimmer
1 year ago

There should be a period after swimmers.

Cold Tub
Reply to  Hooked on Chlorine
1 year ago

aint no way ur not a troll

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
Reply to  Hooked on Chlorine
1 year ago

Wow, you got me! I’m suitably chastened.

David
Reply to  Hooked on Chlorine
1 year ago

Titmus won’t beat Macintosh in either fukuoka or Paris not even close shells not going 3:56 she is of form already beaten by ocallahan this year

Hooked on Chlorine
Reply to  David
1 year ago

One thing’s for certain, your English teacher is going to come dead last.

Andrew
1 year ago

Ah yes, another hyper athlete, multi gold medalist trying to tell us the importance of failing

Artemis
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

I mean, you think that journey to multiple gold medals was easy? It’s not like her career has been perfect, and Katie’s talked about missing her intervals at UF. Yeah, Katie Ledecky sometimes misses her intervals during some of Nesty’s sets. Even the greatest in history have spectacular blunders.

NoFastTwitch
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

Ah yes, once again, Andrew belittling a great athlete because Andrew [fill in the blank with your best guess]

IU Kicker
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

You have to take risks to fail. Katie repeatedly does this in practice which is likely at the heart of why she has been so successful for so long.

MCH
1 year ago

Failing spectacularly. She gets that from coach Gemmel. It’s in a few of his clinic talks.

Pam
Reply to  MCH
1 year ago

Happy that Summer took advantage of Seimming Canada not being able to support their swim community during the pandemic!

Becky D
Reply to  MCH
1 year ago

I had a running coach once say after I flamed out in a two mile run, “You never know your limits until you exceed them.”

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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