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Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky is heading east to train at the University of Florida, she announced on Instagram Wednesday morning.
Ledecky says she will train under Florida head coach Anthony Nesty and the “outstanding mid-distance and distance training group out there” in preparation for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Ledecky trained at Stanford University under the guidance of his trainer Greg Meehan since starting his first year of college there in 2016.
Ledecky wrote the following on Instagram, adding that being closer to her family was a factor in her decision:
“Stanford has been my home away from home for five years. He will always have a special place in my heart. Having completed my college education this year, I am moving east to be closer to home and family.
I decided to train at the University of Florida with trainer Anthony Nesty and the great distance and middle distance training group. I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that await me in the next phase of my swimming career.
My years at Stanford have been nothing short of amazing. I am very grateful to my coach Greg Meehan, as well as to my teammates, teachers, friends and everyone in the Palo Alto / Menlo Park area who have supported me throughout these years.
Ledecky will also serve as a volunteer assistant coach with the program. It is not uncommon for active Olympians to join the coaching staff as volunteer assistants, as this gives them greater leeway to travel and train with teams that would not necessarily be offered to them as volunteers. as postgraduate trainees.
Being able to boast arguably the greatest swimmer of all time as a member of your coaching team also helps recruiting considerably. It also allows the sports department to pay for their trips.
The 24-year-old Bethesda, Md., Native received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Stanford this year. She was an eight-time NCAA champion, competing for the Cardinal for two seasons before turning pro in March 2018.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the University of Florida’s world-class swim and dive program and to train for the 2024 Olympics with coach Anthony Nesty and the mid-distance training group. and remote leading, ”Ledecky said in a University of Florida press release.
“My years at Stanford, both academically and athletically, have been nothing short of amazing and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that await me at Gainesville.”
Nesty led the revival of the American Men’s distance swimming during the summer as the head coach of both Bobby finke, who won the 800 and 1500 freestyle at the Olympics, and Kieran smith, who won bronze in the 400 freestyle.
“The knowledge and experience that Katie brings to the pool is unparalleled,” said Nesty. “In addition to her obvious excellence as a swimmer, Katie is an exceptional person who will have a big impact on the student-athletes here. Katie’s values align well with the Florida schedule, and we’re delighted she is joining the Gators as she continues to train for the 2024 Olympics.
Nesty was previously the head coach of the Florida Men’s College team, but starting this season he will also be in charge of the women’s program.
Last year, under then-head coach Jeff Poppell, mid-distance freestyles were a force among Florida women. They scored 112 points in the mile, which is more than they’ve scored in any other event. Their second best score was the 500 freestyle, with 90 points, as they finished 2nd in the team at the SEC championships. Among the swimmers in this group is rising junior Tylor Mathieu, a former Futures champion in the 800 freestyle.
The University of Florida will now be the training base for America’s two most prominent active swimmers: Celebrity Dressel There is training there as a graduate student under the guidance of former Florida head coach Gregg Troy.
Ledecky’s coach since 2016, Meehan, has shared his thoughts on leaving Stanford.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to coach Katie for the past five years,” Meehan told SwimSwam. “Beyond records, medals and championships, she is an extraordinary woman. Stanford is just a better place and I’m a better coach because of Katie’s time here. She has become a family.
“While we are sad to say goodbye to you, we are delighted with Katie’s next trip. Coach Nesty and I have talked quite a bit over the past few weeks and I think Gainesville will be a great choice for this next phase of Katie’s career.
Prior to joining Meehan at Stanford, Ledecky trained at Nation’s Capital Swim Club under coach Yuri Suguiyama and eventually Bruce Gemmell, with whom she trained until the 2016 Olympics.
Ledecky is a three-time Olympian from the United States, winning gold in the women’s 800 freestyle in her London 2012 Games debut. She followed with a dominant performance of four gold and one silver at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and added two gold and two silver last summer in Tokyo.
In addition to winning three consecutive Olympic titles in the 800 freestyle, becoming the first American swimmer to win three consecutive gold medals in an individual event, Ledecky also became the first Olympic champion in the women’s 1,500 freestyle last summer.
While still the best 800 and 1500 freestyle swimmer in the world, Ledecky was beaten head-to-head in the 400 freestyle in Tokyo by the Australian Ariarne Titmus, who also won the world title in the event against a sick Ledecky in 2019. Having also failed to win a medal in the 200 freestyle at the Olympics (having won in 2016), Ledecky did not achieve a personal best in one of his four primary events since 2018 (1,500 free), and his current PBs in the 200, 400 and 800 all remain from 2016, which could be a factor in his decision to change his training base.
Ledecky also holds 15 world champion long course titles, including four in a row in the 800 freestyle, as well as eight gold medals at the Pan Pacific Championships.
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