Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky, who holds multiple Olympic and World Championship titles, expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden following her receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday.
Ledecky took to Twitter to share her appreciation, stating, “Thank you Mr. President @POTUS for this honor, and thank you to everyone at the @WhiteHouse for an incredibly special day!”
By now, Ledecky is used to someone draping a medal around her neck, given her career with 10 Olympic medals and 26 World Championship medals as a member of Team USA. Her achievements also date back to college competitions with the Stanford Cardinal, high school competitions with Stone Ridge and even summer league with the Palisades Porpoises. However, this honor was something special for the 27-year-old freestyler.
On Friday, Ledecky stood among a group of 19 recipients, including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, at the White House to receive the nation's highest civilian honor.
“Obviously, growing up in this area, I know what a huge honor this is. I feel very connected to this area,” Ledecky said, as reported by Dave Sheinin of The Washington Post. “I know this is a national kind of award, but to me it feels almost local. I get to come home for this for a couple of days. This is my community.”
Katie Ledecky first swimmer to earn award
Ledecky is the first swimmer to be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the 61-year history of the award. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever in her sport, with her 21 World Championship gold medals being the most of any female swimmer. A seven-time Olympic gold medalist, she is expected to add to her tally at the Paris Games, where she is expected to compete in four events. She has set her sights on surpassing Jenny Thompson for the most golds by a female swimmer in Olympic history.
During her 72-hour trip to the D.C. area, Ledecky continued her twice-a-day training schedule, practicing wherever she could find an available pool. She is focused on the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Indianapolis, followed by the Paris Games.
Friday's ceremony had Ledecky reminiscing about her first trip to the White House as an honoree, back in 2012, after her breakthrough gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle at the London Olympics. Then-President Barack Obama singled her out as the youngest member of the American contingent, even noting that she had to complete her summer reading ahead of her sophomore year at Stone Ridge while in London.
“It's crazy to me that that was 12 years ago and that I've had the career I've had to this point — and still going,” Ledecky said. She plans to continue competing at least through the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
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