Katie Ledecky: Swimming star tells 15-year-old Katie Grimes “You're the now”
Swimming sensation Katie Ledecky has tipped 15-year-old Katie Grimes to be her successor after the young upstart qualified behind her in the 800m at Day 7 of the US Olympic Swimming trials.
Swimming
The future has come for swimming sensation Katie Ledecky.
Her name is Katie Grimes and she her journey is already mirroring that of the five-time Olympic gold medallist.
When 24-year-old touched the wall in 18:14.62 in the 800m freestyle to claim her fourth victory at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials in Omaha yesterday, coming in just 5.74 seconds behind her was 15-year-old Grimes.
Claiming the one-two spot, both Katies guaranteed their qualification for Tokyo 2020, in 2021.
Remarkably nine years ago, at the same event, in the same city, Ledecky similarly surprised audiences when she made her first Olympic team at the age of 15, in the 800m.
She then went on to stun the world a second time when she defeated reigning Olympic Champion and home favourite Rebecca Adlington at London 2012, forcing the bronze-winning Briton into retirement a year later.
Tap on the shoulder
The significance of the moment certainly didn’t wash over Ledecky.
The multiple world-record holder described how earlier in the week, after Grimes had finished third in the 1,500 freestyle just outside of qualification, she had told the young upstart, “You’re the future.”
Ledecky afterwards shared she had since amended her words: “I told her after that one, ‘You’re the now.’”
For Grimes, who was just six years old when Ledecky won her first gold in London, knowing that she is following in the exact footsteps of Ledecky is something she has struggled to wrap her head around:
“Fifteen years old, that’s nuts,” she said in amazement. “Who knows maybe I’ll be like her nine years from now and there’ll be another 15-year-old, you know?”
There is no current threat of Olympic debutante deposing Ledecky quite yet. The American made history to become the most successful woman in U.S. swimming trials history with eight titles. The only swimmer in front of her is Michael Phelps.
Grimes will nonetheless be sure to take comfort in the knowledge that for now, she's on the right track.