Left Wanting More

katie-ledecky-press-conference-rio-olympics

Photo Courtesy: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

By Katie Lafferty, Swimming World College Intern.

Now that World Championships in Budapest, Hungary are over, it’s only fair to say that this meet did not disappoint. From the amazing show Hungary put on everyday, to the fast swims, and even to the amount of time the swimmers spent sharing on social media, it was easy to feel as if one was actually sitting in the stands watching the meet live.

Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

World Championships brought us an epic showdown (that was a year in the making) between Lilly King and Yulia Efimova, Canada’s first female World Champion in Kylie Masse, Bethany Galat claiming the silver in the 200 breast in her first international appearance, and an awesome race showing that Matt Grevers is still one of the best in the world, despite missing the United States Olympic team last summer. However, with numerous world records set and incredible races swum, there’s someone who may have left the world wanting more. Who’s that? Katie Ledecky. In her signature events she didn’t go a best time, which also means that she did not set a world record.

A few weeks back in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the United States trials for World Championships, many people could have been bit bummed out that they didn’t see Ledecky get a world record, but when she said in an interview that she wasn’t fully rested, it made sense. It’s hard to go best times, and set world records, after intense training and little to no rest. After seeing Ledecky perform (amazingly) in Budapest, but off of her best times, people around the world may be left wanting more.

Photo Courtesy: Caroline Kosciusko

However, this isn’t fair to Katie. Or really anyone. The amount of pressure a person may feel from others to perform better and better each time is draining and not always healthy. It’s not fair to the athlete. Performing better, and setting world records each time, would be like like asking Michael Jordan to score more points in EVERY single basketball game he played. That’s really not possible, considering Jordan played 1072 games throughout his career. Although, Jordan is arguably one of the best basketball players to ever play professionally, his career high for points scored in a game came in 1994, nine years before his second retirement.

When the world gets bummed out that Ledecky didn’t set a new world record, that is taking away from what she did do. That is taking away from the fact that she went out there and gave it her best for that given day. Ledecky has trained an unimmaginable amount of hours for many years to achieve the success she has accomplished, and her talent is not something to be taken for granted. Even the greatest Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, did not manage to go a best time every time he raced.

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout Ledecky’s career, she has set a world record 13 times over three different events, the 400 free, 800 free, and 1500 free. These 13 world records happened in the span of only three years. It is evident by the number of records she has set that she is continuing to get better. Every time Ledecky steps up onto the blocks, you know history is about to be made. Whether the history that is about to be made is a world record or a record number of medals is the joy of watching her race. To watch Ledecky swim her own race, by herself (most of the time), is something to not be taken for granted. World records or not, Ledecky is still a once in a lifetime swimmer, and a swimmer we should appreciate no matter what time she swims.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

14 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

David C. Mishalof

6 years ago

…and Katie earned Five Gold Medals and One Silver medals (six total) while swimming approx. 6300 meters. An awesome week even by Ledecky standards. ?

David C. Mishalof

6 years ago

…and Katie earned Five Gold Medals and One Silver medals (six total) while swimming approx. 6300 meters. An awesome week even by Ledecky standards. ?

David C. Mishalof

6 years ago

…and Katie earned Five Gold Medals and One Silver medals (six total) while swimming approx. 6300 meters. An awesome week even by Ledecky standards. ?

michel van damme

6 years ago

i think she should not swim a record at the worlds or olympics. it is more important to win gold medals.

Elizabeth Toups Strausser

6 years ago

Well said regarding Ledecky…some fans and the media need to understand this and have some realistic expectations.

David C. Mishalof

6 years ago

..and Katie earned Five Gold Medals and One Silver medals (six total) while swimming approx. 6300 meters. An awesome week even by Ledecky standards.

6 years ago

The article takes one extreme ofthe story concentrating on best times and world records. Objective observers wonder wether she has peaked evidenced by going 8 seconds over her best times in the 800? Another concern is wether college swimming is doing to her what it did for Missy?

Hannah

6 years ago

Reply to Mo

It’s never been proven that MIssy was hurt by going to college. She had two amazing NCAA seasons, one of which culminated in a 1:39.10 200 free that no one else has been within a second of. She won a silver medal at the 2015 world championships the year after her second college season, as opposed to Rio where she didn’t even final in that event, even though it was a slow year for the 200 backstroke (the third place time would barely have made finals at this years World Championships). Based on that, it’s more likely that there were factors outside of college that led to her struggling in 2016.

Andreea Mihaela Diaconu

6 years ago

??????

Joseph Buchanan

6 years ago

This is a really great and well thought-out piece. Great work!

Rosalee Kalil

6 years ago

This is a great article. Katie, you are truly the best!!! Congratulations!?

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

she had the best record out of ANYONE of our female swimmers…but you watchhhh..come golden googles they be looking to give manuel or king FEmale athlete of the year…..make my words

Matt Ponds

6 years ago

I hate that the media made it seem it was a disappointment that she didn’t tie Missy Franklin’s record. Just appreciate what she has done and what she has ahead of her.

Keefe Lodwig

6 years ago

Swimmers mentally and physically take a cycle to rest so they can perform at a high level even if it is every other year.. her body is tired but her times especially in shorter races will get faster ..