Katie Ledecky Commits to Stanford (Photo)

Olympic champion Katie Ledecky is a Bethesda resident.

Olympic Gold Medalist and four-time World Champion swimmer Katie Ledecky, a junior at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and a member of the Nation’s Capital Swim Club, announced on May 15 her verbal commitment to swim for Stanford University’s NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Team following completion of her high school education as a member of the Stone Ridge Class of 2015.

“I am thrilled to announce that upon completion of my high school education, I am committed to pursue my college education at Stanford and very much look forward to the opportunity to swim for the Stanford Cardinal women’s team in NCAA competition,” said Ledecky, who is a Bethesda resident. ” I am very excited about the educational opportunities that will be available to me at Stanford and to swim for its great NCAA program under the leadership of Coach Greg Meehan and Assistant Coach Tracy Duchac.”

Ledecky, an honors student at Stone Ridge, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, and member of the USA Swimming National Team, won an Olympic Gold medal in the 800 Meter Freestyle as a 15-year old at the 2012 Olympic Games in London where she was the youngest member of the entire U.S. Olympic athlete delegation. Ledecky followed up her Olympic performance by winning four gold medals and breaking two World Records at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona where she became the first American woman ever to win the 400 Meter, 800 Meter, and 1500 Meter Freestyle events in a single World Championship competition. Among other honors in 2013, Ledecky was named the FINA World Swimmer of the Year, the World and American Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine, USA Swimming’s Athlete of The Year, and the U.S. Olympic Committee Sportswoman of the Year. She has won the USA Swimming Phillips 66 Performance of the Year Award in each of the last two years. Ledecky trains and swims year-round as a member of the Nation’s Capital Swim Club where she is coached by 2013 ASCA Coach of the Year Bruce Gemmell at the club’s Georgetown Prep site.

An eight-time National Champion and holder of five American records, Ledecky has also been a leader on Stone Ridge’s high school swim team as a three-time varsity letter winner coached by Bob Walker. Ledecky has been a ten-time NISCA High School All-American and holds the overall National High School Records in the 200 Yard and 500 Yard freestyle events, and was a member of the 2012-13 Stone Ridge team that captured the Independent School League championship title with an undefeated league season. Twice named the Washington Post All-Met Swimmer of the Year, Ledecky will be one of three captains of the Stone Ridge swim team next winter during her senior year at Stone Ridge.

“Katie’s success as a swimmer and a student are truly exceptional and provides us all with great inspiration,” said Head of School at Stone Ridge Catherine Ronan Karrels ’86. “She has made tremendous contributions at Stone Ridge with her talents, strong faith, self-discipline, courage, and confidence. Katie will surely thrive at Stanford and in her future pursuits.”

Go Card!

pic.twitter.com/XXYHxv8pDI— Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky) May 15, 2014

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