Olympic Star Katie Ledecky Moves to Gainesville To Train With The Guys

Coming off her third successful Olympic Games Katie Ledecky explains the process of how and why she moved to Gainesville.  She didn’t say it outright, but it sounds like she wanted to train with the talented Gator men’s distance group. What do you think?  Of course coach Anthony Nesty has proven his success training distance swimmers.

Has Katie considered ISL?  Apparently not according to this interview. She said World Championships is the priority and focusing on her long course meters training on the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. She’d like to race short course meters, but she has nothing planned right now.

I loved this catch-up with Katie, particularly hearing about her time off after the Olympic and actually doing water aerobics.

Katie is back in action at USA Swimming’s Pro Swim in Chicago. That’s not 100% confirmed, but I think she’ll be there, and she’s definitely got her training mojo back.

I’m holding off on the prediction game until after the Pro Swim, but, please, drop in your predictions in the comments.

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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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Georgia Rambler
2 years ago

Mel,
She didn’t say she did water aerobics, she said she went with her mother to water aerobics and swam some laps. I have done water aerobics for a dozen years in many places and usually they have classes in the shallow end of the small pool. Amazing how many of the participants can’t swim. No lane lines, warm H20, sixty-somthing females. It is often more social than workout, Just don’t see her hopping around in a pool doing water aerobics, especially since she is a tall young woman.
But who knows….

Eagleswim
Reply to  Georgia Rambler
2 years ago

He was saying it must be some water aerobics class to have one of the greatest swimmers ever swimming next to you… it’s hard to believe you didn’t pick up on that

Mediocre Swammer
Reply to  Georgia Rambler
2 years ago

Not that any of this matters, and Eagleswim’s interpretation is correct, but I coached at a Y and saw their water aerobics classes. They usually have both shallow- and deep-water aerobics classes (so choose your poison). I attended one, once, with my lifeguard friend. It was surprisingly difficult. Not in an “I am out of shape” way, but in an “what you’re asking me to do with my legs goes against everything I was taught as a swimmer, and I am finding it very difficult” way.

I also swam next to water aerobics attendees many times. The number of times one of them (or another lap swimmer or open rec attendant) thought they had enough time to amble slowly across… Read more »

Georgia Rambler
Reply to  Mediocre Swammer
2 years ago

Yes, I have done deep water too, again, many can’t swim, and use noodles. Only do shallow water because it is possible to ramp up the inensity and lift heavier weights. Wanted to bump up my cardio and got my oldest daughter to teach me to swim freestyle correctly. Now I lap swim 2 days plus kick and do aerobics 3 days. Lost my husband of 67 yrs, and decided to get myself into shape. Weird but I really enjoy swimming at 85 tho I had never managed a lap across the pool 4 months ago .
They don’t put lane lines up in our 25 yd pool and so one is forced to swim around people who seem… Read more »

sscommenter
Reply to  Georgia Rambler
2 years ago

ok, cool. hook em

Georgia Rambler
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
2 years ago

Bwahaha! That video might be almost as good as the chocolate milk one.
We don’t have music and my group is older but I can still pump pretty heavy weights in the H20, believe they are 12 lbs resistance, But then i did a lot of gym work when I was younger. Still strong upper body despite being an octogenarian. The 3 guys in the class are afraid to try them. LOL And yes I do this 3 days a week.

Lil Mosey
2 years ago

Ha! Insiders know the real reason Katie left Stanford was the retirement of my good friend Nicholas “True” Sweetser. True used to SMOKE Katie every practice and his lighthearted approach to every workout is what kept her loving the sport. When it came time to recover True was a great resource for tv shows to watch while recovering from a strenuous day’s work and even introduced Katie to her favorite anime — Highschool DxD!!! With True out of the game making sick beats for me to rap over, Katie needed a new training environment which led her to Florida to train with Finke. While not quite as good (Finke was demolished — physically, mentally and spiritually — by True at… Read more »

Virtus
Reply to  Lil Mosey
2 years ago

Bro… tell me the dxd thing isn’t true

Swimfan
2 years ago

Mel, if you have the chance to talk with Dressel during or after this week’s pro series, please ask him about #Project20.7 and his time goals in other events (100free,50fly,100fly).

I will be very grateful 😇

Sincerely,
Swimfan aka Remel’s biggest fan

Last edited 2 years ago by Swimfan
How much can CD bench???
Reply to  Swimfan
2 years ago

I’d be remiss not to also put in a respectful request for him to answer the ULTIMATE question in my user name!

Anonymoose
Reply to  How much can CD bench???
2 years ago

eight

Grimes/McIntosh combo is the future
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
2 years ago

6- Does he intend to taper for a yards meet to better his 17.6, 42.8 (he had a long turn in that swim), 39.9 (he was very tired on that day)?

7- Will we see him in the Mare Nostrum Circuit after US Trials this May?

How much can CD bench???
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
2 years ago

Agreed on all questions! I think he regularly works with about 255-275 in the 8-10 rep range or so, and has pushed north of 315 at least once. Also what’s his goal in the 100 free? 46 mid or low???

mcmflyguy
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
2 years ago

bench 320? god I hope not or I’ll feel far more inferior than I already do to the man.

Tommy Schmitt
2 years ago

Katie has enough money on the side from all her sporting success (not even considering her family) that she doesn’t need to bother with ISL. For her it’s all about the long pool, the rest is fun and games.

Last edited 2 years ago by Tommy Schmitt
Former Big10
Reply to  Tommy Schmitt
2 years ago

Bobo Gigi approves this message

AndyD
Reply to  Tommy Schmitt
2 years ago

Yes she has been all about long course, still I’d like to see her have a go at SC worlds, and set a time for 800 &1500.

Marsh
2 years ago

Mel is in his silver Fox era and I love it

Swammer2009
2 years ago

Great interview and glad she took some time to reflect on the next step! When Nesty opened his email, I bet hers was a nice surprise.

I wonder how much her rent differs in Gainesville vs Palo Alto…

MIKE IN DALLAS
2 years ago

Just a guess, but she’s probably one of the most emotionally and spiritually well-grounded world class athletes I can think of — Yes, she’s off the charts!

Ghost
2 years ago

Old news, recycled news? Isn’t there enough swimming going on to focus on at the moment? I love Katie and she is smart but spread the love

Gold Medal Mel
Reply to  Ghost
2 years ago

…we check in on all gold medalists ahead of pro swim series events

Swammer
Reply to  Ghost
2 years ago

There are articles about all the conference meets and swimmers, commitments, state champs, technique, dry land, ISL, even fast swimmers getting married, plus age group wonders. There have not been many Ledecky articles, so I think your comment is actually misinformed. I’d argue more attention on Ledecky. You know, the attention the greatest female swimmer of all time, who happens to be a huge supporter of others deserves.

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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