Katie Ledecky on securing Paris 2024 berth for USA and Olympic swimming history goal: “I challenge myself to stay consistent”
American swimmer Katie Ledecky explained how her pursuit for consistency had spurred her on to reach a fourth Olympic Games, after securing a berth for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the U.S Trials*.
As per Sports Illustrated, Ledecky said, “I feel like I enjoy this more and more each year. I pride myself on that consistency, I challenge myself to stay consistent.”
The seven-time Olympic champion cruised to victory in the women’s 400m freestyle final on Saturday (15 June), finishing four seconds clear of her nearest competitor with a 3:58.35.
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
The American is chasing two individual Olympic records. The first is for the most successful Olympic female swimmer of all time, where she is one gold away from equalling the record currently held by American compatriot Jenny Thompson, who won eight golds from Barcelona 1992 to Sydney 2000.
Ledecky is also aiming to break the record for the most Olympics medals won by an American woman, which is also held by Thompson with 12 overall medals. Ledecky currently has seven golds and three silvers to her name, spanning back to her stunning 800m freestyle win on her Olympics debut at London 2012.
“Ever since I made it to London, I never thought I’d make it there,” Ledecky explained, “I didn’t dream of that as a young kid. I wanted to prove I wasn’t a one-hit wonder. But at the same time I reminded myself that anything more than that is icing on the cake, cherry on the cake. That’s just the focus I’ve been able to maintain.”