Here's Exactly How Katie Ledecky Is Training For The 2024 Olympic Trials
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Katie Ledecky is no stranger to the pressure of training for a big event. She's won seven gold medals over the course of her three Olympic Games, and is the most-decorated female American athlete, NBD. And this time, as she prepares for the 2024 Games in Paris, she's working as hard as ever.
"I don't see going to the gym as work—I see it as playtime. It's fun for me," the swimmer exclusively told Women's Health while chatting about her partnership with Athleta's Power of She Collective. "I'm pretty good at staying focused on my own goals and not paying attention to any expectations that might be on me."
Katie's goals include making an "impact beyond the sport" she competes in, which is why she wanted to team up with Athleta. The 26-year-old will serve as an advisor to the Power of She Fund, meaning she'll help guide where the campaign donates; in particular, Katie wants to support organizations that encourage women and girls to get involved in sports.
Of course, Katie's still looking to make a splash at the Games this summer, meaning she still has months of training—and the Olympic Trials in June—to get through. Read on to find out how Katie is preparing for another round on the international stage, from her workouts to her (rare) rest days.
She swims 10 times a week.
After training for the 2020 Games in a backyard pool thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Katie shifted her home base from California to Gainesville, Fla. in 2021. She's continued training in the Sunshine State ever since, sharing that she's with a "great group of teammates and coaches." She swims with them 10 times per week, racing against groups of college and professional swimmers for about two hours each time.
The group has given her a new appreciation for swimming, a sport she started when she was just 6 years old.
"My coaches are really great about making sure that I'm keeping my life balanced and creating such a great environment where we're focused and we're very committed to our goals, but we're encouraging each other and doing it with a smile," she said. "I feel like I love the sport more and more every year and I think, more than anything, that's what contributes to longevity in the sport."
She hits the gym five days a week, too.
Outside of the pool, Katie is in the gym five times per week, doing strength training and conditioning. Three days a week, she'll work with coaches on weight lifting; meanwhile, on the other two days, they'll do a workout called "dry lands," which includes bike sprints or circuit training with battle ropes or prowler sleds. But it's always a full-body workout.
"I'm just trying to get my arms stronger, my legs stronger, my core stronger," she said. "I'm just trying to make sure that I'm the best that I can be for the big summer ahead. I want to know that I've put in all the work, and feel confident and strong behind the blocks."
She supplements her workouts with nutritious meals.
Not that Katie has *much* free time, but when she's not in the gym, she loves to try out a new recipe.
"I love to cook," she said. "I try to cook healthy meals that support my training."
Katie told Women's Health in 2021 that her "food philosophy has always been to eat healthy and to treat my body right." Her meals consist of lots of eggs, granola, and yes: chocolate milk.
She sleeps as much as she can.
If she's not training, cooking, or hanging out with her teammates, you can find Katie catching some z's.
"I try to catch a quick nap when I can," she said. "And I try to go to bed early. I'm usually up by 5:30 for my 6 or 6:30 a.m. practice, so I need to make sure I'm getting my rest."
This practice helps Katie keep a "good balance" in her life amidst long days of training.
"I try to take each day as it comes—make the most of the opportunity that I do have and do it with a smile on my face," she said. "I'm a pretty happy person, so I like to keep things that way."
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