Extended interview: Katie Ledecky on 2024 Olympics performance, closing ceremony honor and more

Summary

In this inspiring interview, a decorated Team USA female athlete shares her Olympic experience, from the physical demands of her sport to the joy of celebrating achievements with family and friends. She reflects on her role as a trailblazer for women in sports, the camaraderie among athletes, and her journey with POTS syndrome. The athlete discusses her book 'Just Add Water,' her future aspirations, and the honor of being chosen as the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies, highlighting the importance of resilience, hard work, and the support of her team.

Takeaways

• 🏅 The athlete is enjoying the Olympics and the city atmosphere, especially being able to stay and soak it all in after their competition is done.
• 🌟 The feeling of being the most decorated female athlete of Team USA has not fully sunk in yet, but it's an honor to represent the country and win medals for Team USA.
• 💪 The athlete's neck is getting stronger from the heavy hardware and they are getting used to it, showing resilience and adaptability.
• 📚 The athlete admires the hard work of all Olympians and finds joy in celebrating their achievements, highlighting the camaraderie and mutual respect among athletes.
• 👧 The rise of female athletes and their success in various sports is a special moment, and the athlete is proud to be a part of this movement.
• 📖 The athlete has written a book, 'Just Add Water', which is a memoir of their swimming career and the support they've received throughout.
• 🤽‍♀️ Swimming is a tough sport that requires dedication and respect for the work of fellow athletes, which is evident in the camaraderie among swimmers.
• 🏊‍♀️ The athlete's POTS diagnosis is managed through careful attention to salt intake, hydration, and rest, demonstrating the ability to overcome health challenges.
• 🚩 Being chosen as the flag bearer for the closing ceremonies is a great honor, and the athlete is excited to represent the team and celebrate with them.
• 🌐 The athlete's support and inspiration come from a wide network of people, including family, friends, and coaches, who have all contributed to their success.
• 🎖️ The athlete continues to set new goals and strives for self-improvement, showing a relentless drive to get better even without immediate recognition.

Q & A

How does the athlete describe the physical sensation of wearing the heavy hardware?

The athlete describes it as initially heavy and causing some neck strain, but mentions getting used to it and experiencing a strengthening of the neck muscles over time.

What does the athlete enjoy about the current Olympics compared to previous ones?

The athlete enjoys being able to stay in the city after the competition to soak in the atmosphere and offerings of the Olympics, which is a first for them.

How does the athlete feel about being the most decorated female athlete of Team USA?

The athlete expresses that it is an honor to represent the country and that the significance of being the most decorated is slowly sinking in, but they are more focused on enjoying the moment and their career.

What does the athlete admire about the work of Olympians?

The athlete admires the hard work and dedication that all Olympians put in to reach their moments of glory and finds it fun to celebrate their achievements.

How does the athlete perceive the focus on female athletes during this Olympics?

The athlete finds it special to see female sports shine brightly and feels honored to be a part of this trend, mentioning that it's great to see strong performances from female athletes.

Who are some of the swimming legends the athlete has heard from?

The athlete has heard from swimming legends like Debbie Meyer and Chris Von Salto, with whom they are close, and also mentions seeing their good friend Schmidt in Paris.

What inspired the athlete to write their book 'Just Add Water'?

The athlete was inspired to write the book by keeping journals of their swimming career and other moments, along with having many photos and family memories to share.

How does the athlete manage their POTS diagnosis?

The athlete manages POTS by staying on top of salt intake and hydration, wearing compression, getting adequate rest, and focusing on small lifestyle adjustments to manage symptoms.

What impact does being an inspiration have on the athlete?

The athlete tries not to think about being an inspiration and focuses on being the best version of themselves, both in and out of the water, and appreciating the support from those around them.

What advice does the athlete give to youngsters interested in swimming?

The athlete advises youngsters to keep swimming, have fun with the sport, and fall in love with it, emphasizing the importance of goal setting, determination, and resilience learned from the sport.

How does the athlete feel about being chosen as the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies?

The athlete feels extremely honored and humbled to represent the team and is looking forward to celebrating with their teammates and experiencing the closing ceremony for the first time.

Outlines

00:00

🏅 Reflecting on Olympic Achievements and Enjoying the Journey

The paragraph discusses the athlete's experience with the hardware of their sport, the physical demands it places on them, and their enjoyment of the Olympic atmosphere. The athlete, now the most decorated female Team USA athlete, expresses that the significance of this achievement is slowly sinking in. They discuss the honor of representing their country and their commitment to winning medals for Team USA. The paragraph also touches on the broader context of female athletes excelling in the Olympics and the camaraderie among swimmers, as well as the athlete's own book, 'Just Add Water,' which serves as a tribute to those who have supported their career.

05:01

📓 Balancing Training with Writing and Overcoming Personal Challenges

In this paragraph, the athlete talks about finding the time to write their book 'Just Add Water' amidst their rigorous training schedule. They share insights into their journaling process and how it has evolved over the years, reflecting on their emotions and experiences. The athlete also discusses their diagnosis with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and how they manage the symptoms to continue competing at a high level. The paragraph concludes with the athlete's perspective on being an inspiration and their approach to staying motivated and focused on self-improvement.

10:02

🌟 Embracing the Role of a Leader and Looking Forward to Future Competitions

The final paragraph focuses on the athlete's role as a leader and their selection as the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies, an honor that moved them to tears. They express their gratitude for the opportunity to represent their team and reflect on the importance of camaraderie among athletes. The athlete also discusses their motivation for future competitions, including the desire to compete in Los Angeles and the joy they find in setting new goals and striving for self-improvement. The paragraph concludes with a look forward to the closing ceremonies and the unique experience of walking in the ceremony for the first time.

Keywords

💡Olympics

The Olympics is an international multi-sport event that takes place every four years, featuring summer and winter games. It is a platform for athletes from around the world to compete at the highest level of their respective sports. In this video, the theme revolves around the personal experiences and achievements of an athlete during the Olympic Games, highlighting the significance of the event in their life and career.

💡Decorated Female Athlete

A 'decorated female athlete' refers to a woman who has received numerous awards, honors, or medals for her achievements in sports. In the context of the video, it signifies the subject's accomplishments and recognition as one of the most successful female athletes from Team USA, emphasizing her contribution and excellence in her sport.

💡Camaraderie

Camaraderie is a sense of good fellowship or mutual trust among a group of people. In the video, the term is used to describe the supportive and friendly relationships among athletes, particularly the swimming team, which contributes to a positive and collaborative environment both in and out of competition.

💡Just Add Water

'Just Add Water' is the title of the athlete's book, which is a memoir detailing her journey and experiences in the world of swimming. It serves as a testament to her career and provides insights into her personal life, challenges, and triumphs, offering inspiration to readers.

💡POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

POTS is a condition that affects circulation, causing symptoms such as dizziness and rapid heart rate upon standing. The athlete in the video discusses living with POTS, demonstrating resilience and the ability to manage the condition while continuing to excel in her sport.

💡Flag-Bearer

A flag-bearer is an individual chosen to carry the national flag during ceremonial events, such as the opening or closing ceremonies of the Olympics. In the script, the athlete is honored to be selected as the flag-bearer for the closing ceremonies, symbolizing her role as a representative and leader of the team.

💡Medals

Medals are awarded to athletes who achieve a high ranking in their events at the Olympics. The script mentions the athlete's collection of medals, which are tangible symbols of her hard work, dedication, and success in competition.

💡Journaling

Journaling is the practice of regularly writing down one's thoughts, experiences, and reflections. The athlete in the video has kept journals throughout her career, which she used as a resource for writing her book and reflecting on her experiences, providing a personal and authentic narrative.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or adapt to challenging situations. The video's theme of resilience is exemplified by the athlete's management of her health condition while pursuing her Olympic dreams, showcasing her mental and physical strength.

💡Goal Setting

Goal setting is the process of identifying something one wishes to achieve and establishing objectives to reach it. The athlete discusses the importance of setting goals in her swimming career, which has helped her stay focused, motivated, and driven to improve.

💡Camaraderie in Sports

Camaraderie in sports refers to the spirit of friendship and mutual trust among athletes, which is crucial for team dynamics and success. The script highlights the positive relationships among the swimming team members and how these connections enhance their competitive spirit and support for one another.

Highlights

The athlete describes the physical sensation of wearing heavy hardware and the impact on their neck.

The athlete is enjoying the post-competition atmosphere of the Olympics, soaking in the city's offerings.

Being named the most decorated female athlete of Team USA is an honor that is slowly sinking in for the athlete.

The athlete's motivation to win a medal for Team USA in every event is driven by a love for the sport and training.

The recent Olympics is celebrated for shining a spotlight on female athletes and their achievements.

The athlete has been inspired by and maintains relationships with swimming legends like Debbie Meyer and Chris Von Salto.

The camaraderie among swimmers is attributed to mutual respect and understanding of the hard work involved in the sport.

The athlete's book 'Just Add Water' is a memoir that shares personal stories and lessons learned throughout her career.

The process of writing the book was therapeutic, involving the review of years of journal entries.

The athlete's POTS diagnosis and how she manages the condition with lifestyle adjustments.

The athlete's role as an inspiration and her personal approach to not focusing on this aspect of her public image.

The significance of being chosen as the flag bearer for the closing ceremonies and what it represents for the athlete.

The athlete's view on not having anything to prove, but rather enjoying the journey and setting new goals.

The importance of fun and goal-setting in swimming, as advised to youngsters by the athlete.

The athlete's reflections on the support from the crowd during the Olympics and its impact on performance.

The anticipation and excitement for the future Olympics in Los Angeles, especially the prospect of a home crowd.

The athlete's commitment to continuous self-improvement and the joy found in the process of getting better.

Transcripts

you've got the hardware on how does it

feel feels pretty good it's heavy that's

I I have to imagine how is your neck

starting to hurt H I'm getting used to

it it's getting my neck's getting

stronger for sure are you enjoying the

moment I am I am this is uh I think the

first Olympics where I've been able to

stay after in the city and kind of soak

it all in soak in the city everything it

has to offer the Olympics so I'm really

enjoying being done with competition and

celebrating with my family and friends

how does it feel feel to be the most

decorated female athlete of Team USA I

don't think that has really sunk in yet

I mean I I keep getting asked it so it's

slowly starting to but um it's always an

honor to represent our country and every

time I dive in the pool I want to win a

medal for Team USA and I'm happy that I

was able to do that in all four of my

events this week and throughout my

career um very happy that I've been able

to have a long consistent career and I'm

not done yet I'm I'm going to keep going

so I'm just trying to enjoy every minute

of it I love the training love the work

um

really I really admire all the work that

all these Olympians put in to get to to

these moments and it's fun to celebrate

all their hard work you know a lot of

people have been talking about it seems

like this Olympics is really all about

the female athletes how great is that

for you to see it's really special um

really special to see some great

performances and I think um female

sports in general across professional

sports college sports and now the

Olympics um has really Shone brightly

over the last year and so just to be

able to be a small part of that here at

the Olympics has been great and um you

know I talk about it in in my book just

said water about how many female

athletes have inspired me over the years

and just to hear from so many of them

means the world to me this past week who

have you heard from I've heard from some

swimming Legends like Debbie Meyer Chris

Von Salto both of whom I'm very close

with um I saw my good friend Schmidt

yesterday uh here in Paris who I I swam

with for many years so um just people

that have become great friends and

people that I've looked up to that so

many people have called me and said I

love that the swimmers all hug each

other and all the women seem like they

really like each other and I said yes

they all do really like each other what

what brings about that camaraderie with

the team I think there's just so much

respect that we have for each other

swimming is a really tough Sport and you

do have to put in a lot of hours so I

think

when you're at this level you understand

the work that the other athletes have

put in and and you respect that you

appreciate that you appreciate um the

great competition uh I I love it when I

I feel like I'm in a big race and I I

know that I'm racing the seven seven

best swimmers in the world and uh it

brings the best out of each other each

day not just in competition but when

we're when we're working as well I when

I ask you about your book Just Add Water

it's a mem more how did you have time to

do this in the middle of all of your

other training well I I worked on it

over the past year and then over the

years I've uh been keeping journals of

my swimming career and other moments

along the way so I looked back a lot at

those when I was working on it and I

have a lot of photos and family memories

and um just tried to piece it all

together to share something special with

everyone and it's been really neat these

past few months to see so many young

girls young boys adults uh swimmers

non-swimmers um enjoy reading it and get

a little something out of it what do you

hope people take away from it I hope

people take away the the joy that I have

in the sport and really the support that

I've had through my career um you know

many of the chapters are dedicated to

the people in my life that have allowed

me to succeed at this level um so my my

parents my brother my grandparents um my

classmates um my coaches I've had uh

four different coaches over the four

Olympics that I've participated in and

each one I have a great relationship

with and and have impacted my career in

very positive ways so uh the book is

kind of a tribute to all of those people

and um I I tell some stories in there I

you know give some takeaways of of some

lessons that I've learned throughout my

career and um yeah it's it's just uh a

lot of special memories that that are in

there you recently uh revealed your pots

diagnosis how are you managing a lot of

those symptoms I I can't imagine

dizziness exhaustion and then having to

jump in the pool yeah well i' I've had

it for I've known I've had it for almost

10 years now and um you know I have to

say I I have been able to manage it

quite well I I understand that there are

some people with pots that have much

more severe symptoms and um have a

harder time managing it and so um you

know for me personally I have to just

stay on top of my salt intake and

hydration and um really just make sure

that I'm I'm doing the small things you

know wearing compression getting

adequate rest all those things so I've

I've been very lucky to be able to

manage it I know some um you know have

harder days than than I do um but you

know hopefully um you know people can

can see that I have it and and those

that that do have pots can um you know

know that with with some work and and um

all that that they can get through those

tough days and know that I'm I'm

supporting them you're an inspiration to

so many for so many various reasons how

does that impact

you I try not to think about it um you

know I I try to just take things one day

at a time one swim race at a time one

swim practice at a time and uh just try

to be the best version of myself in and

out of the water and as I've said and as

I I say in the book B you know I I have

so many great people around me that keep

me motivated uh keep me focused keep me

determined keep me loving the sport and

I I'm very lucky in that I I understand

that some people haven't had that that

kind of Road in in sport um but you know

just being at the Olympics like this it

uh is is always a great moment to thank

those people as well and and have that

gratitude um toward all the all the

people that have gotten you to this this

moment you said you journaled to create

the book was this a therapeutic process

for you in some ways definitely I I

looked back at all the journals over the

years um I started journaling before my

first Olympics back in 2012 and have

really kept journals almost all the way

through so it was neat to look back at

how the journaling has evolved uh how I

kind

of it's the structure of the the each

entry has stayed the same they're kind

of built around my swim practices but

over the years I've kind of written more

and more about how I'm feeling what I'm

thinking you know how I'm feeling during

swim meets all those emotions and and

feelings that I have so I I kept a

journal here in Paris so you know my

story is not done yet um even though the

book the book has been written but um

you know I I try to take good notes and

you know down the road I want to

remember these things and and be able to

share them with you know hopefully I

have kids someday so you know hopefully

hopefully them in the future and um many

others down the line that that swim or

or want a little bit of inspiration what

do you think will be your most memorable

moment that you'll write down from Paris

uh man there were there are so many I

mean I think there's so many moments in

the pool but then for me what I always

love are those moments that you spend

with your teammates um behind the scenes

you know stretching warming up before

the race joking around um we had a

really great team here in in Paris USA

swimming won the gold medal count the

total medal medal count um I was a part

of some I was part of one really special

relay so uh just those little moments

where we're laughing and and joking

around inside jokes um I'm not going to

share but um you know those things I try

to write down and remember for the

future okay I'll have to check out the

next book then find out you guys are

joking around about um I got to watch

you swim in Rio in Tokyo and now here

the crowd here it was incredible yeah

did that help it did it did um there

were so many F there uh the French swim

team was incredible this year so they

had a lot of people come out to support

and they really created a fun

environment um but we also had a lot of

American fans in in attendance I know um

a lot of the photos of us um you know

singing the National Anthem receiving

those medals you see a lot of fans

behind us from the US um singing right

along with us so uh those were very

special moments really nice to have our

family and friends back at the Olympics

after not having them in Tokyo so uh you

know I think a lot of families came out

in full force to support their athletes

and that was really sweet what advice

would you give the young the

youngsters just keep swimming and and

have as much fun as you can with the

sport I started swimming for summer

league swim team Palisades porposes when

I was uh six years old that's one of the

first chapters in in the book it's

called Palisades and I I detail you know

what made me love the sport right from

the start the Sharks and Minnows games

after the the swim Meats the barbecues

the the friends that I have I still have

to this day there were people um at at

the um Paris Olympics here cheering me

on that were my first swim coaches at

palisad so um it's it's really special

and and it's special that you get to be

a part of a team like that the

camaraderie um and just fall in love

with the sport and you know it it might

not be for you for forever you know you

might not become an Olympian I never

dreamt of becoming an Olympian when I

started at Palisades but uh just that

joy that I found the goal setting that I

learned the um determination the

resilience that I learned from an early

age I feel like has served me well

through my Olympic career and I know

will serve me well beyond my swimming

career you never pictured yourself as an

Olympian no not at all there were there

are a lot of Olympians that say that it

was the first thing they dreamed of when

they first started swimming or they

watched the Olympics for the first time

and wanted to go years in the future I

just never thought it was possible I I

saw these athletes as just superheroes

and it was so far-fetched and just

didn't have much interest in learning

about how you qualify for the Olympics

until I got a little closer and started

realizing I could qualify uh yeah my my

parents always joke when they're asked

when did you know Katie was going to be

an Olympian and they said they say when

she touched the wall first at Olympic

trials and qualified that's when they

knew USA swimming we won the gold medal

count count and the overall medal count

in the pool we definitely had some tough

competition from a lot of different

countries Australia France Canada China

um just globally swimming has gotten

faster and faster and that pushes us

that makes us want to work harder and

you know by the time La comes around in

in four years we want to be better we

want to be better than we were here in

Paris and I think that's definitely

doable we're going to have the home

crowd in front of us and we want to put

on a good show for them do you have

something to prove I don't think I have

anything to prove at this point I'm I'm

really just enjoying my career at this

point I'm always striving for more

Always setting new goals for myself I

would love to compete in Los Angeles at

this point I know that can always change

um but I I think it would be incredible

to swim in front of Home crowd and feel

that energy and support that the friend

frch swimmers felt here in Paris um and

probably even to another degree because

swimming is going to be in Sofi stadium

in 2028 so that would be incredible is

that going to be crazy that's going to

be crazy we thought it was loud here yes

probably you know 10 times that in La I

don't think you have anything to prove

either I just didn't know for yourself

if you're if there's like one more thing

or something well I'm I'm always setting

new goals for myself and I'm I'm never

really satisfied and um as crazy as that

sounds it's just what continu to drive

me and continues to get me to the pool

every day I love trying to get better

even if it doesn't necessarily show

every single race on the scoreboard I

love the feeling of self-improvement the

feeling of improving in training even um

so I you know sometimes it's baby steps

along the way to to those bigger goals

and um you know sometimes those those

small wins can feel very very rewarding

how does it feel to be the flag bearer

at the closing ceremonies it's it's such

an h i um only found out this morning um

that I was named that and um I started

crying when um they had Bobby think my

teammate um my USA teammate and also my

Florida teammate distance uh swimmer who

just broke a world record um he

facetimed me to tell me the news and I

started crying and uh it's really just

such an honor to represent this team um

so many great performances this week

from All Sports and just uh have that

moment this is my first time ever

walking in closing ceremony so to be

able to experience that for the first

time is going to be really unique and I

can't wait to celebrate with my

teammates all of their successes and I

know you know some of them may have

families here some of them may have

families at home watching and I hope

that we can uh all carry that flag

together and and represent all of all of

the US that's been cheering us on this

whole way why do you think you were

chosen I don't know I I you know and uh

I've been doing this a long time now i'

I've been to a number of Olympics so I

think um you know I I'm I'm just

incredibly honored and um you know I

hope my teammates can um you know I hope

they see me as a leader and I hope that

I have been able to help some of the

younger athletes uh along their Journey

i' I've certainly enjoyed meeting

athletes from all different sports here

and and cheering them on trying to learn

a little bit more about their stories

their backgrounds and um again I I think

I'm just going to even learn more on on

Sat on Sunday at closing ceremonies um

you know it's just a great opportunity

to interact with more incredible

athletes and they inspire me they they

inspire me by their hard work their

sacrifices again the sacrifices of their

families um and yeah it's going to be a

great night awesome okay can you show me

the medals sure sure

sure look at that smile

love it oh thank you