Katie Ledecky Signs with Wasserman Agent Dan Levy

Torrey Hart
by Torrey Hart 31

April 02nd, 2018 News

Katie Ledecky announced her decision to turn pro and forgo her final two years of collegiate eligibility last Monday, meaning that she will be in the market for sponsor deals in the near future.

Ledecky has taken the first step in that direction, signing with Wasserman Senior Vice President of Olympic and Women’s Sports, Dan Levy.

Wasserman (formerly Wasserman Media Group) has represented a number of high-profile female athletes including US soccer players Abby Wambach, Mia Hamm, and Alex Morgan, and basketball players Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, and Brittney Griner. The company also boasts Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, and Giancarlo Stanton in its list of represented athletes.

Wasserman Chairman/CEO Casey Wasserman was behind the LA2024 (now 2028) push as the Chair of LA2024. Janet Evans, who is often tied to Ledecky through their distance swimming prowess and tenures at Stanford, worked closely with Wasserman on the bid. However, Evans is not represented by Wasserman’s company and is instead with Chicago Sports and Entertainment Partners.

“It’s rare that an athlete turns pro and they have a business on Day 1,” Levy said in an interview with the Washington Post. “We feel we have the luxury — and Katie feels this way, too — in being very strategic and trying to put together a plan first and then find the right partner companies that fit what she wants to do moving forward.”

Likely, Levy and Ledecky will aim to leverage long-term deals — perhaps ones that would run through not only Toyko 2020, but Paris 2024 as well.

“My goal when it comes to endorsements is to take a balanced approach to my business,” Ledecky said. “I will be seeking the support of sponsors who understand my commitment to training, to my education and to my growth as a person. I also am excited to work with people and companies who understand that they are also investing in my journey to have success in the pool.”

Because she has already been so successful on the international stage, Ledecky is in a fairly unique position to leverage her talent to be in full control in the negotiation process.

“She’s accomplished so much prior to turning professional that she is in a position to influence a lot of the decisions that will be made going forward,” Levy said. “Whereas if she was another athlete just turning pro, sometimes you have to compromise a little bit more just to earn a living.”

Both Levy and Ledecky stressed that they will be cautious in making sure that her out-of-pool obligations do not hinder her performance in it.

“We understand that the swimming is the most important thing, and that’s the platform that everything builds from,” Levy said.

By turning pro with two years left in the Olympic cycle, Ledecky gives herself time to adjust to whatever those outside obligations might entail. She also noted that in 2016, though she was still an amateur, she did have commitments outside of practice and racing.

“I also have been able to observe what has worked for other professional athletes, and the support that I have received from family and friends is crucial,” Ledecky said.

As for the brands she’ll represent? Levy is confident that Ledecky’s fame will bring her endorsements outside of the swimming world as well as the big ones in it.

“Katie’s such a smart and thoughtful person. You combine that with her excellence in the pool, and you just get an incredible force. I think we are always excited to work with women who are really committed to making a positive impact on the next generation as well,” Levy said. “There’s no question that Katie already transcends the sport of swimming.”

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Swimsam
5 years ago

I would be interested to know if you she has reached out to Missy Franklin. Ledecky is very intelligent, or so it seems. I would def reach out to Missy for advice and pitfalls.

Yozhik
Reply to  Swimsam
5 years ago

They were competitors in swimming at some brief point (200 free). Aren’t they are competitors in the business now? Or there are plenty of money and media attention for every current and former swimming celebrity?

Andy
5 years ago

So now the question is does she sign with MP, Speedo, TYR, or Arena? I’m sure Speedo, TYR, and Arena will offer her more money, but MP will probably offer her more freedom and probably better suits.

Ervin
Reply to  Andy
5 years ago

Adidas has really upped their game too. Is anyone even on MP?

Dudeman
Reply to  Ervin
5 years ago

Adidas suits are definitely the lowest on the list of all other suit companies, I know they have some high profile swimmers but in my opinion Arena, speedo and TYR make much better racing suits.

Superfan
Reply to  Andy
5 years ago

Curious as to why you think MP would offer a better suit?

neil
Reply to  Andy
5 years ago

She should sign with Mizuno

Swimfan
5 years ago

Congrats!!

Yozhik
5 years ago

Despite this season doesn’t have major championships it could be a very important one for her new business. Should she swim in PamPac under 15:30, under 8:10, under 4 min and under 1:55 She will have no difficulties to get long term contracts with the provisions to continue her education and having training schedule that fits her plans most. If we see the repetition of last year WC then some doubts can be heard.
Therefore I expect to see her at PP in full strength and wish her the best with that.

Bob
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

Lol if she can’t get under 4 minutes for her 400 free she has some problems to sort out… Anyways being serious I sincerely wish her the best and hope to see her get back to her crazy best times going forwards. She’s an incredible athlete and should have no problems getting contracts. I wish her well for the future.

Yozhik
Reply to  Bob
5 years ago

“Under 4 min” looks indeed the easiest target. She was there three times last season. I used it because it sounds good for business, because it is still a dream target to anybody else and because that is how we will see her most likely in commercials. For those who are not following swimming closely there is no big difference between 3:59 and 3:57. But breaking 4 min barrier is treated like a super achievement.

Taa
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

you are too results oriented. I hope you are not a coach or a swim parent. I pity your kids

Yozhik
Reply to  Taa
5 years ago

Ok, for the sake of my kids I will go from the “TOO” result oriented parent type to the “TAA” result oriented type. I hope that some day they will appreciate such a sacrifice 😀

Taa
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

under my system you always take your kids to get frozen yogurt or a fruit smoothie no matter what times they swim at the meet. Even Katie Ledecky should follow my system. Her and Simone.

Yozhik
Reply to  Taa
5 years ago

You sound like a grandpa who is always nice to grandchildren but take actually little of responsibility. Therefore I’m embracing your system. Very convenient.
BTW, you won’t argue that Katie Ledecky achieved something in swimming, but have you ever seen her father excited on the stands or bringing her smoothie.. When she was in the school he said that she spends more time in the water than on dry land. It was the real concern of responsible parent. Frozen yogurt is nice but with all due respect it is cheap.

AvidSwimFan
5 years ago

Ledecky deserves the very best because of her talent, dominance, and trail blazing ways. However, the demands on her must not take her away from training or her education. I’m glad she’s looking for balance. Wish her all the very best.

Swimmer A
5 years ago

To say she transcends the sport of swimming is somehow still an understatement. She’s a god.

Billy
Reply to  Swimmer A
5 years ago

A god? Get serious…Katie seems like a very nice, intelligent young lady who is a incredible, world record breaking athlete. She’s human, not a god. That’s a stretch.

I hope she has continued success in her swimming career and makes a great living. Her records will be very tough to break but I imagine they will be someday in the distant future.

Just Swim
5 years ago

“My goal when it comes to endorsements is to take a balanced approach to my business,”
Thank you Katie!
A neo-pro swimmer thinking and expressing herself in terms of business value.
So maybe finally it won’t just be NBC, ESPN, the NCAA, the Olympics, and the swimsuit companies raking in profits off the back of this young woman’s immense talent and huge volume of intense hard work.
Finally, it will also be the SWIMMER HERSELF.
Swimming has much to learn from Katie Ledecky, in more ways than one…
Take note Caeleb Dressel.

paloozas
5 years ago

congrats, katie! we’re all wishing much success in your future endeavors

About Torrey Hart

Torrey Hart

Torrey is from Oakland, CA, and majored in media studies and American studies at Claremont McKenna College, where she swam distance freestyle for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team. Outside of SwimSwam, she has bylines at Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, SB Nation, and The Student Life newspaper.

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