Ledecky, who turns 27 on March 17, became an Olympian at age 15 when she competed in the London Games. Back then, she was the youngest competitor across all sportsโand she came home with a gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle. She hasnโt 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, sheโs favored to take the gold in the 800 and 1500 meters.
This kind of success doesnโt come without grueling hours in the pool, weight room, and in dryland sessions. It also doesnโt happen without tremendous support from family, coaches, teammates, and many others. Thatโs why Ledecky announced a new partnership this month with Athleta, the womenโs sports apparel brand, as a member of the Power of She Collective. The Collective includes other female sports legends, like gymnast Simone Biles, who โchampion wellbeing, create meaningful impact, inspire product innovation, and support women moving women forward.โ
โAthletaโs philosophy for athlete partnerships is so unique and I wanted to be a part of something that inspired me on a personal level,โ Ledecky said in an email interview with Well+Good. โI believe you are not defined just by your achievements, but by what you stand for and how you use your platform.โ
โI believe you are not defined just by your achievements, but by what you stand for and how you use your platform.โโKatie Ledecky
Through the endorsement deal, Ledecky will collaborate with philanthropies that empower women and girls with access to opportunities in sports, fitness, movement, and education. According to the Womenโs Sports Foundation, by age 14, girls drop out of sports at two times the rate of boysโthatโs a statistic sheโd like to see improve.
โLack 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,โ Ledecky says. โIโm excited to work with Athleta to help address these challenges and make an impact.โ
4 fitness tips to steal from Ledecky
Ledeckyโs 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 routineโand especially one with a goal, like a race or other competitionโyou have to start gradually. Professional athletes like Ledecky have periods of time when theyโre building toward their actual training cycle, when theyโre 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.
โItโs assessing where your body is and how it needs to function for optimal performance and creating a plan to build on that responsibly,โ Ledecky says. โTo avoid injury, developing a progressive plan with measurable goals and key milestones will help prepare you for any fitness goal, big or small.โ
Ledecky swims 10 times a week, so sheโs 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.
โSwimming is low-impact, it works the whole body from a strength perspective, while still being a cardiovascular workout. Itโs the best-kept secret in fitness,โ 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. Donโt fall into comparison trapsโyour exercise and fitness objectives are your own.
โSuccess for me is just thatโfor me,โ Ledecky says. โI donโt feel pressured by other peopleโs 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 Iโve done my best, Iโll always be happy.โ
3. Love what you do
Maybe itโs clichรฉ, but the more you love the type of exercise you do, the greater the chance that youโll 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, itโs time to try something new. Itโs OK to change up your routineโand, in fact, itโs healthy.
โI truly enjoy my sport and I donโt even view time in the gym as workโI tend to view it as play time,โ Ledecky says. โBut like anyone, some days are harder than others. I focus on my goals. Goal-setting is big for me. It keeps me focused.โ
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 just came to an end at a meet in February when Summer McIntosh, a 17-year-old Canadian, swam 8:11.39 to Ledeckyโs 8:17.12. Ledecky stows the loss away as motivation for laterโlike, in Paris this summer.
โI use those moments as learning opportunities to come back better,โ Ledecky says. โSuccess to me is not determined by the results, but by the effort put into achieving them.โ