Courtesy: Nation’s Capital Swim Club
Washington, DC – Nation’s Capital Swimming announced today that ‘The Nation’s Capital Invitational’ swim meet held annually at the University of Maryland will be renamed ‘The Katie Ledecky Invitational’ hosted by Nation’s Capital Swimming (NCAP) and sponsored by TYR.
Katie Ledecky started swimming competitively year-round for NCAP at six years old, her ties with the club dating back to 2003. At age 15 while training with NCAP and Coach Yuri Suguiyama, Ledecky competed in the 2012 Olympics in London and won her first gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle as the youngest member of the entire U.S. Olympic delegation. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, NCAP Coach Bruce Gemmell guided Ledecky to four gold medals and one silver medal in the second of her four Olympic appearances.
Now a 28-year-old graduate of Stanford University training with Coach Anthony Nesty‘s University of Florida pro group, Ledecky is the most decorated female swimmer in history with 14 Olympic medals and 23 World Championship titles, and is the most decorated U.S. female Olympic athlete across all sports. She has broken World Records 17 times and American Records 43 times, and won 8 NCAA titles (and two National Team titles) at Stanford in her two seasons of collegiate competition coached by USA Swimming’s new National Team Director Greg Meehan.
“We are excited to have Katie be a part of our signature event because she cares so much about the sport and is such an important part of our club’s history,” stated Thomas E. Ugast, CEO of NCAP. “As an age group swimmer, she had many great swims at our December invitational. Her association with this meet reflects her continued commitment to support young swimmers and to grow the sport of swimming. Naming the event after Katie reinforces the fact that Katie, NCAP and TYR will be working together to make the event special for all participants.”
“I am honored that this wonderful meet will now be known as ‘The Katie Ledecky Invitational’, said Ledecky. “I swam in this meet for so many seasons, and I always looked forward to it so much. I remember meeting Olympians like Tom Dolan and Kate Ziegler at this meet, and what an impact that had on me. It was such an important and fun meet in my development as a swimmer. I owe so much to NCAP’s coaches, administrators and volunteers, and was thrilled when NCAP and Mr. Ugast reached out to me about the meet.”
Held each year at the University of Maryland, College Park, on the second weekend in December, the meet has historically been attended by over 30 teams and 1,500 athletes from all over the Mid-Atlantic region, several of them current and past Olympians. The meet this year will begin on Thursday, December 11 and will run through Sunday, December 14.
Gotta give this a big thumbs up. There are very few sporting events in the USA named for women, especially a GOAT who is still competing. It’s another good step for women in sports, and for swimming and the sporting world in general.
That is great recognition for Katie! Great Idea!
“Kathleen Ledecky” still holds meet records in four events (from 2015):
200 free – 1:41.04
500 free – 4:28.17
1000 free – 8:59.65
400 IM – 4:01.69
The 1650 free is held by Cavan Gormsen in 15:57.20 (2022). Katie did not swim it in 2015
Yeah that’s great, but have they finally gotten rid of those pesky B Finals heats?
Entrants must swim the 1650 in order to be eligible to enter other events. Days 1 and 2 will be heats of the 1650, days 3 and 4 will other, less important events.
I remember when this was called the Tom Dolan Invitational. When did it shift to NCAP?
Probably when Tom Dolan stopped paying for it or was not relevant anymore? Also it used to be called Joe Jacoby before that right? His daughter swam for NCAP (obviously then Curl Burke)
Can’t think of a safer athlete to name a meet, pool, or building after.
Seems to be universally respected.
I remember watching when Ledecky went 8:59 in the 1000 at this meet. Very cool that they named it after her now. I wonder if she’ll show up to meet the kids or even race at it!