Katie Ledecky has been selected for induction into the Washington D.C. Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes great athletes from the D.C. area like Ledecky, who was born in Washington D.C. and raised in nearby Bethesda; as well as athletes from the area’s colleges and who played the majority of their professional careers there.
At only 20-years old, Ledecky is already one of the most decorated female swimmers in history. She has 6 Olympic medals (5 gold, 1 silver), 9 World Championship gold medals, and 5 Pan Pac Championship gold medals.
“I am thrilled to be joining such a distinguished group of individuals being inducted into the DC Sports Hall of Fame,” Ledecky said. “I have enormous respect for each of them. I was born in Washington, D.C., and have lived my entire life in the area, so this type of recognition in my home community is very meaningful to me.”
Ledecky made her breakthrough at the 2012 Olympics at age 15, where she was the youngest American swimmer on the team in London. There, she won a gold medal in the 800 free. 4 years later in Rio, she was still the youngest swimmer on the team, and added individual golds in the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle, plus relay gold in the 800 free relay and relay silver in the 400 free relay.
In the time since, she’s broken 13 World Records. She’s the current World Record holder in the 400, 800, and 1500 meter freestyles in long course, and owns the 13 best times in history in her best event: the 800 free.
In her freshman season at Stanford, she had 9 American Record swims in short course yards, and currently holds (or shares via relay) 10 American Records in all courses combined.
Ledecky is just the 2nd swimmer ever inducted into the Hall of Fame. Melissa Belote, who won gold medals in the 100 back, 200 back, and 400 medley relay at the 1972 Olympic Games, was also born in Washington D.C. She’s not only a member of the Washington D.C. Hall of Fame, but also the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and International Swimming Hall of Fame.
D.C.!!! Represent!!
She should be in the “most awesomest of all time” hall of fame. Just my opinion. ?
She will one day ….with that evolutive curve she is in .
about time