Swimming · United States · 1997–
Katie Ledecky Life & Career Timeline
Distance freestyle transformed through four Olympic cycles and counting.
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1997200220072012201720222026
KLKatie LedeckySwimming · United States
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About this timeline
About Katie Ledecky
From a teenage Olympic breakthrough to sustained world-record dominance over 400m, 800m and 1500m.
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Katie Ledecky biography
Katie Ledecky timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Born in Washington, D.C.
Katie Ledecky grew up in Maryland and joined a summer swim team at six.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comOlympic champion at fifteen
Ledecky won the 800m freestyle in 8:14.63.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comFour world championship golds
She won 400m, 800m, 1500m and relay gold, setting two world records.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comFirst 400m world record
A 3:58.86 swim gave her all three distance-freestyle world records.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comFive Pan Pacific golds
She swept her programme and lowered two world records.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comHistoric freestyle sweep
She became the first swimmer to win 200m through 1500m at one Worlds.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.com400m gold and world record
Ledecky lowered her record to 3:56.46.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.com800m world record
Her 8:04.79 completed an Olympic individual-freestyle treble.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comFour golds and one silver
She medalled across individual and relay events.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comFive more world titles
Five golds and one silver extended her championship record.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comTurns professional
After two NCAA team championships, she began her professional career.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comFirst Olympic women’s 1500m champion
Ledecky won the inaugural women’s Olympic 1500m.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comThird straight Olympic 800m title
Victory completed a third consecutive championship.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comFour world titles
Ledecky won every event she entered.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comSixth world 800m title
She became the first swimmer with six world titles in one event.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comOlympic 1500m record
Ledecky retained the title in 15:30.02.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comFour straight Olympic 800m titles
A fourth 800m gold made her the most decorated US woman in Olympic history.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comAnother 800m world record
She swam 8:04.12, improving her nine-year-old record.
Connected: Swimming
Source: www.worldaquatics.comExplore related timelines
This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Katie Ledecky or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Licence shown on source file
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About the Katie Ledecky timeline
Who is Katie Ledecky?
From a teenage Olympic breakthrough to sustained world-record dominance over 400m, 800m and 1500m.
How many moments are included?
This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1997–.
Who maintains this timeline?
This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
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