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First and second in the 2022 World Aquatics Championships. First and second in the 2024 US Olympic Swimming Trials. Some might think this would lead to rivalry. However, in the world of Katie Squared, "rival" is replaced with the word "friend."
Katie Ledecky and Katie Grimes, a dynamic swimming duo affectionately known as "Katie Squared," have given friendship a whole new meaning. They show how camaraderie can drive athletes to new heights and lead to remarkable achievements both in and out of the pool.
Both athletes have followed strikingly similar paths: They each qualified for their first Olympics at the age of 15, in the same race, in the same city, and have dominated distance freestyle events ever since. Despite being fierce competitors at the highest level, their shared journey has forged a friendship that truly captures the essence of the sport and the Olympic Games.
Ledecky and Grimes are now set to compete in their second Olympic Games together, having secured their spots on Team USA at the 2024 trials for Paris 2024. Katie squared brought the heat in the Women’s 1500m freestyle, with Ledecky finishing first at 15:37.35 and Grimes trailing behind in second at 15:57.77.
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.
Imagine the moment of racing to touch the wall at your first Olympic Games, in your first Olympic final. You break the surface, gasping for air, and the first sight you see is your teammate and friend, Katie Ledecky, right next to you, beaming with pride. This was the reality for Katie Grimes, who, at just 15, competed alongside her friend and idol at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Grimes has been a standout swimmer since she burst onto the scene. She was the youngest member of Team USA in Tokyo, where she finished fourth in the women’s 800m freestyle. Her friend Ledecky won gold, while Ariarne Titmus from Australia won silver and Italy's Simona Quaderella took bronze. Grimes’ performance surprised many, but not those who saw her dedication and talent.
The Nevada native has continued to impress, competing alongside Ledecky in numerous global events. She has brought home four individual medals at world championships and a historic bronze in the 10km open water swim at Fukuoka 2023, where she became the first American across all sports to secure an Olympic quota for Paris 2024. Grimes will also be the first woman from the US to compete in both open water and pool events at the Olympics.
Her rapid rise and consistent performance looked familiar to some, leading to many to compare Grimes to her seven-time Olympic champion friend.
Grimes spoke about Ledecky: "She's someone that I've always looked up to. So it was really awesome to be able to get to know her and have her by my side. When I had just made the team and had no idea what to do at the Olympics, to have somebody like her be willing to help and give advice was really, really important."
Greatness recognizes greatness, and that was certainly the case when 10-time Olympic medalist Ledecky met Grimes. At the 2021 US trials, Ledecky told the teenager: "You're the future." However, after witnessing Grimes’ stellar performances in the rest of the trials, Ledecky amended her statement to, "You’re the now."
Ledecky has mentored Grimes ever since, sharing valuable advice on handling interviews, post-race emotions, and even the small details like standing on the medal podium.
Ledecky continued to speak highly of Grimes, praising her maturity, energy, and team spirit at the 2022 FINA World Championships: “I fully knew she [Grimes] was capable of getting that, and just to see how far she has come in a year and the maturity that she has and how much energy she brings to the team. I don’t think I was like that when I was her age. It’s awesome to be on the blocks next to her, be in the lane next to her, and to share this moment with her is really special.”
Their first and second-place finish in the 1500m freestyle was a personal best for Grimes and marked the first time in the event's history that the US had two teammates on the podium.
Ledecky herself knows what it’s like to be a teenage phenom, having made her Olympic debut at 15 at London 2012. Over the years, she has amassed numerous accolades and broken several world records, establishing herself as one of the greatest swimmers of all time.
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The next stop for Katie Squared is Paris 2024. Although the stakes will be higher than ever, one thing is certain: Ledecky and Grimes are friends first, teammates second, and competitors third.
The duo is set to compete together in the 1500m. Grimes will also race the 400m IM, and Ledecky will take the blocks in the 200m, 800m, and 400m freestyle.
The world's top swimming athletes will gather in Paris from 26 July 26- 11 August.
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