Video courtesy USA Swimming Youtube.
This morning, Katie Ledecky stepped up to the plate for her pre-Olympic Trials press conference at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
Ledecky comes into the Olympic-qualifying meet entered in all five freestyle events plus the 400 IM, leading many to question whether she will scratch the 400 IM and/or the 50 free. She says that she and her coach, Bruce Gemmell of Nation’s Capital, have yet to decide on the 400 IM, which swims Sunday.
“I have two days, so not too worried about it right now,” she said.
Ledecky also talked about her taper coming into the trials.
“Yeah, there was a little bit of taper… Everyone is rested here, everybody is going to swim fast, and you gotta be ready to go,” she said, adding “All the taper questions could go to my coach, Bruce. I just do whatever he writes on the board for practice.”
Ledecky and the moderator also discussed her expanded event schedule, which includes the sprint free events.
“We have been able to focus a little more on the shorter races this year, just not having to swim the mile this year, but, really– it’s not something where we sit down and say, okay, we’re really, really, really focusing on this race and not on this race,” she said. “It’s kind of all the same amount of focus on all the races. Obviously the 400 and the 800 are kind of my go to races and the races I really, really love, but I do also really like the 100 and the 200, and I want to do just as well in those.”
The discussion also covered topics ranging from the Zika virus and security concerns in Rio to doping in the sport.
Ledecky closed the press conference with warm words about Gemmell as a coach.
“I think it’s that he always keeps me really relaxed, we’re always laughing and having fun,” she said. “He’s pretty sarcastic and can bicker a few times, and it’s funny to watch him and Andrew, his son, whose also going to be here argue about things, and it’s just always fun on the pool deck with him, but at the same time he always keeps me very focused and I try to follow everything that he tells me to do before races, and sometimes he has to remind me a thousand times but it always pays off, and I’m just really happy I’ve had him as a coach these last four years and had a lot of fun along the way.”
You can find a full transcript of the press conference here.
Katie swims so fast that I’m getting mad in advance about the television coverage. I’m certain I’ll hear more than once the stupid comment: “She’s so far ahead you can’t even see another swimmer in the picture.” Ok, yes, that will be true, but it’s true because the coverage doesn’t zoom out and let me see the other swimmers. And it won’t just be Katie’s races (although I have no doubt she will hold incredible leads!). Swimming coverage (and sports coverage in general) chronically zooms in and often takes a low angle so the actual competition is missed. I don’t need to see Katie’s head and arms splashing. I actually know other swimmers in the same heat, and I might… Read more »
i picked her in the top 4 so she has to swim it now.
me too , at 4th exactly
400IM added to 400 free is nutty. I don’t think it is in the cards.
Katie Hoff did it in 2008 Omaha and got away with both, plus more.
The bags under her eyes! She looks so tired!
Perhaps but I think she has the 19year old filling out & just looks different . its coincides with the Freshman 20 ( she looks like only 10 ). Down in the jungle 14-15 year old girls are married off on their first layer of fat & only need one cow.. There is another opportunity at 18-19 for the ones that missed out & 2 cows . Lastly at 23 its time for parents to starve themselves & fatten them up for last ditch sale with 3 cows.
Then if not -the family is finished – cowless & stuck with a fat 24 year old .
What in the world are you even trying to say?
Have a cow man.
Gina I have been biting my tongue for a while reading your comments but I have to tell you, your comments are inane and irrelevant- I don’t know if you are a woman or a man, but feminine hygiene and grooming has nothing to do with Olympic trials coverage. Most of your comments on other articles are in this similar thought process (provocative and inappropriate), and frankly, it’s uncomfortable for me (and probably others) to read. Also, 6 week cycles (we all know what you were thinking when you wrote this) is actually not the correct time frame. I suggest that if you are so interested in these topics that you google those topics to get the information right. Thanks… Read more »
well done Empire . Cant follow GINA as well – he/she looks to be in a different time/space bubble actually – interfering with common sense & awareness . She should ride a cow first and comment later LOL
Leave Gina alone!
S/he’s the best thing on Swimswam!
I’d rather read her comment all day than those boring repetitive inane inaccurate swimming fantasies of a crazy swim fan.
Oh Fuddy Dudddy Empire. Its just basic hair tinting & waxing – who doesn’t do it? Men also pay attention to their hairstyle & have tints – some fine highlights via foils goes great . Men wax their chests & legs.
Its not hygiene -just looking good . Something you probably don’t need in your stormtrooper outfit.
No cows needed for Ledecky she is golden
If she were a Masai she could cow dope.
Are you kidding me Shiba? Those are shadows from the lights. If you are looking at what’s under her eyes and not the color, compare it to any other picture and she looks the same!
ErvinForTheWin… I think the light is really bright, which makes her hair look lighter. But really, who cares if a young woman wants to do something to her hair?
i dont care for the hair – just found it funny looking
Has Katie always had that kind of hair color ? she is really poised as usual . Go Katie ( 400 IM on sunday )
I remember it being a lot more brown. Probably just got highlights or something.
She has had it blonded . Timing to look her best in Rio requires a toning to get rid of the yellow & regrowth colour 2 weeks out . It’s like waxing – 3 weeks gloriously smooth 1 week stubble 2 weeks yuk.
This is why I think girls should be trained in 6 week cycles . In that few days downtime at the end -out they go to the Day Spa for the works & come back looking human & feeling great. Oh & a box of chocolates.
Gina I have been biting my tongue for a while reading your comments but I have to tell you, your comments are inane and irrelevant- I don’t know if you are a woman or a man, but feminine hygiene and grooming has nothing to do with Olympic trials coverage. Most of your comments on other articles are in this similar thought process (provocative and inappropriate), and frankly, it’s uncomfortable for me (and probably others) to read. Also, 6 week cycles (we all know what you were thinking when you wrote this) is actually not the correct time frame. I suggest that if you are so interested in these topics that you google those topics to get the information right. Thanks… Read more »
Could also be swimming at a pool where the chlorine level is higher than before. When I stopped swimming every day, my hair grew out sever shades darker brown than it had been because the constant chlorine had been bleaching it in high school and college.
I’m really glad Katie has had Bruce Gemmell as her coach the last four years too! 🙂
She sounds like she is exceptionally coachable!