Following her remarkable achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Katie Ledecky has set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Games. In August, Ledecky made history by winning her ninth Olympic gold medal, bringing her total to an unprecedented 14, which now makes her the most decorated American female Olympian. She tied the record for the most gold medals won by any woman in Olympic history, previously held by Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina, after clinching gold in the 800-meter freestyle for the fourth consecutive time.
At a recent employee appreciation conference for Raising Cane’s, Ledecky expressed her enthusiasm for the future of her swimming career. “Right now, the answer is yes,” she said when asked about competing in Los Angeles, eliciting a strong reaction from the audience of over 3,000. Although she took a brief break after the Olympics, Ledecky is already getting back into the pool and preparing for the next four years. “I’m starting to get my mind into swimming mode and setting my goals,” she added, highlighting the unique opportunity to compete on home soil.
Ledecky acknowledged that she has some rust to shake off after her time away from training. “You lose your feel for the water, you gotta get it back,” she remarked, emphasizing her commitment to daily consistency and hard work. “I really do love the journey, and it’s just not something that I’m willing to put aside yet.”
To maintain her elite status in swimming, Ledecky adheres to a rigorous training schedule, swimming about ten times a week and engaging in dry land training five days a week. This totals around 25 to 30 hours of training weekly, not including the importance of sleep and nutrition. “All of those things are especially important now in my career,” she noted, reflecting on her dedication to her sport as she looks forward to the next Olympic cycle.