Katie Ledecky is a professional swimmer from America who is a five-time Olympic gold medallist. She has also won the World Championship 14 times and holds the swimming world record in 400-, 800-, and 1500-metre freestyle (long course) and the fastest-ever times in the women's 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard freestyle events. A Washington D.C. native, Ledecky first became interested in swimming when she was six years old. She demonstrated prodigious skills even during her high school days and later joined the Nation's Capital Swim Club as a trainee. In 2012, Ledecky made her international debut at the 2012 London Olympics and won the gold medal for 800-meter freestyle, much to the surprise of many. Four years later, in Rio de Janeiro, she accumulated four gold medals, two silvers, and two world records. Over the course of her career, she has won 24 gold medals and two silvers in various international competitions and has created 14 new world records. Her achievements in the pool have garnered her the title of Swimming World’s World Swimmer of the Year four times, United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year three times, L'Équipe’s Champion of Champions twice, Women’s Sports Foundation’s Sportswoman of the Year once, and Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year once. In May 2018, Ledecky made her professional swimming debut.