Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky is part of a generation that has changed women’s sports forever. Without hyperbole, she’s the greatest of all time—and as she heads to the Paris Games this summer, she’s also hoping to help open up more opportunities for those following in her, um, wake.
Ledecky, 27, became an Olympian at age 15 when she competed in the London Games. Back then, she was the youngest competitor across all sports—and she came home with a gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle. She hasn’t faltered since.
Over the past 12 years, Ledecky has won 10 Olympic medals, 26 world championships medals, and set world records in the 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle events. If all goes according to plan in Paris, she’s favored to take the gold in the 800 and 1500 meters.
This kind of success doesn’t come without grueling hours in the pool, weight room, and in dryland sessions. It also doesn’t happen without tremendous support from family, coaches, teammates, and many others.
That’s why Ledecky announced a partnership in March with Athleta, the women’s sports apparel brand, as a member of the Power of She Collective. The Collective includes other female sports legends, like gymnast Simone Biles, who “champion wellbeing, create meaningful impact, inspire product innovation, and support women moving women forward.”
“Athleta’s philosophy for athlete partnerships is so unique and I wanted to be a part of something that inspired me on a personal level,” Ledecky said in an email interview with Well+Good. “I believe you are not defined just by your achievements, but by what you stand for and how you use your platform.”
“I believe you are not defined just by your achievements, but by what you stand for and how you use your platform.”—Katie Ledecky
Through the endorsement deal, Ledecky collaborates with philanthropies that empower women and girls with access to opportunities in sports, fitness, movement, and education. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, by age 14, girls drop out of sports at two times the rate of boys—that’s a statistic she’d like to see improve.
“Lack of physical education in schools and limited opportunities to play sports in both high school and college mean girls have elsewhere for sports, which may not exist or may cost more money,” Ledecky says. “I’m excited to work with Athleta to help address these challenges and make an impact.”
4 fitness tips to steal from Ledecky
Ledecky’s interest in inspiring fitness and movement extends to adults, too. She offered some of her expertise and advice for all of us who are just trying to stick to a fitness routine week-in and week-out. Here are four ways this Olympic star stays dedicated to training for the long-haul.
1. You can train to train
Before you get into any fitness routine—and especially one with a goal, like a race or other competition—you have to start gradually. Professional athletes like Ledecky have periods of time when they’re building toward their actual training cycle, when they’re putting in consistency and a base of fitness before getting into the final months of more intense or focused preparation for something big, like the Olympics.
This base-building keeps injuries at a minimum and helps lay a foundation of good habits, not just when you’re actually working out, but also fueling properly, getting enough sleep, and creating a routine to build from.
“It’s assessing where your body is and how it needs to function for optimal performance and creating a plan to build on that responsibly,” Ledecky says. “To avoid injury, developing a progressive plan with measurable goals and key milestones will help prepare you for any fitness goal, big or small.”
Ledecky swims 10 times a week, so she’s often in the pool twice a day. She lifts in the gym five days a week, where she also completes her dryland program two times a week, which is rooted in more cardio and stamina mixed with agility.
“Swimming is low-impact, it works the whole body from a strength perspective, while still being a cardiovascular workout. It’s the best-kept secret in fitness,” she says.
2. Define and redefine success
Nothing is static when it comes to goals and fitness. Our bodies and lives are always evolving, so our interests and needs are bound to adapt as we enter new seasons and chapters. Don’t fall into comparison traps—your exercise and fitness objectives are your own.
“Success for me is just that—for me,” Ledecky says. “I don’t feel pressured by other people’s expectations. I am grateful to have an incredible support network of family, friends, and coaches with me every step of the way. As long as I know I’ve done my best, I’ll always be happy.”
3. Love what you do
Maybe it’s cliché, but the more you love the type of exercise you do, the greater the chance that you’ll continue doing it and achieve the consistency that matters most in your health and fitness. If you find that one type of class or sport no longer feels engaging or fun, it’s time to try something new. It’s okay to change up your routine—and, in fact, it’s healthy.
“I truly enjoy my sport and I don’t even view time in the gym as work—I tend to view it as play time,” Ledecky says. “But like anyone, some days are harder than others. I focus on my goals. Goal-setting is big for me. It keeps me focused.”
4. Let failure be fuel
Nobody is perfect, even a GOAT like Ledecky. In fact, her 13-year winning streak in the 800-meter freestyle came to an end at a meet in February when Summer McIntosh, a 17-year-old Canadian, swam 8:11.39 to Ledecky’s 8:17.12. Ledecky stows the loss away as motivation for later—like, in Paris this summer.
“I use those moments as learning opportunities to come back better,” Ledecky says. “Success to me is not determined by the results, but by the effort put into achieving them.”
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