On Road to LA28, Take Time to Appreciate the Greatness of Katie Ledecky
The start to the 2025 campaign has been relatively quiet for Katie Ledecky. Only a handful of Florida-based competitions have dotted her schedule, and for good reason. Following her latest Olympic Games, in which she raised her career haul to 14 medals, the American superstar deserved a break after Paris and the chance to return to action on her own accord.
This week, the 28-year-old is slated to compete at the TYR Pro Series stop in Fort Lauderdale, where many of the world’s premier swimmers will race at the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Given the talent expected in the Southern Florida, the meet can be considered Ledecky’s return to high-level racing – in a way, her official launching point toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Ledecky will contest the 200 freestyle through the 1500 freestyle, along with the 400 individual medley during the four-day event. A meeting with Canadian Summer McIntosh in the 400 free is certain to draw eyes, although the finishing order is of minimal significance. Rather, Ledecky’s time in Fort Lauderdale will merely provide a gauge of her recent training and let her know where she stands a few months shy of the World Championships in Singapore.
Anytime the American legend hops in the pool, fans of the sport become eager. A midseason sub-4:00 effort in the 400 free? Another all-time ranking performance in the 800 freestyle? A 1500 freestyle a few seconds quicker than anyone else in history? Who wouldn’t want to see something of that ilk? Any of it would be entertaining and provide an easy headline.
But just as Ledecky prepares to embrace a return to demanding racing, perhaps it is time that she is viewed through another lens, one that emphasizes pure appreciation. Now, let’s be honest. Anyone with minimal understanding of the sport is aware of what Ledecky has achieved during her career. The argument can be made – quite simply, really – that Ledecky is the greatest female swimmer in history. The combination of her hardware and all-time dominance in the distance-freestyle events suggest that status.
Still, enhanced appreciation is more than proper at this point in the future Hall of Famer’s career. Already with four Olympic appearances (2012-2024), each of which has yielded gold in the 800 freestyle, Ledecky will try to make Los Angeles her fifth Olympiad. Perhaps a home Games could make her the first five-time Olympic champion in an event. Maybe she’ll make it three straight crowns in the 1500 freestyle.
Regardless of what happens down the road, we have the chance to deeply value – with each stroke she takes – what Ledecky has done in the pool. We can tip the cap to her dominance, such as her five-second historical margin in the 800 freestyle or the 18-second chasm she possesses in the 1500 freestyle. But we can also recognize the way she carries herself – with class and honor for her country. We can acknowledge her for inspiring the next generation and providing them with a strong female role model.
When Ledecky surges off the starting block this weekend, she’ll almost surely come home with a victory or two in Fort Lauderdale. We might see some impressive times. But more than anything, we’ll watch someone who has brought so much to the sport and deserves nothing short of thanks for her contributions.
We can adopt this approach over the next few years, as Los Angeles calls. For all Katie Ledecky has done, it’s only appropriate.