Obviously being an Olympian and swimming GOAT doesn’t come easy, but seeing her discipline and drive makes you really understand the great divide between elite athletes and, well, the rest of us. She provides sweet family insights and the support system around her. Even if you aren’t a swimmer, Katie Ledecky’s story inspires.
A candid and inspiring memoir from Olympic gold medalist, world champion, and the most decorated US female Olympian in history: Katie Ledecky.
Just Add Water Book Jacket
Katie Ledecky has won more individual Olympic races than any female swimmer in history. She is a four-time Olympian, a nine-time gold medalist, a twenty-one-time world champion, eight-time NCAA Champion, and a world record-holder in individual swimming events. At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, she became the most decorated US female Olympian of all time. Time and again, the question is posed to her family, her coaches, and to her—what makes her a champion? Now, for the first time, she shares what it takes to compete at an elite level.
Again and again, Ledecky has broken records: those of others and, increasingly, her own. She is both consistent and innovative—consistent at setting goals and shattering them, and innovative in the way she approaches her training. A true competitor, she sets her goals by choosing the ones that feel the scariest. But, crucially, she never sacrifices the joy of competition, even in the face of adversity. Her positive mental outlook and a great support system provides the springboard to her success.
Just Add Water charts Ledecky’s life in swimming. It details her start in Bethesda, Maryland, where she played sharks and minnows and first discovered the joy of the pool; her early foray into the Olympics at the tender age of fifteen where, as the youngest member of the American team, she stunned everyone by winning her first gold medal; her time balancing competition and her education at Stanford University; how she developed a champion’s mindset that has allowed her to persevere through so many meets, even under intense pressure; and how she has maintained her dominance in a sport where success depends on milliseconds. You learn how every element of her life—from the support of her family to the tutelage of her coaches, from her childhood spent in summer league swimming to the bright lights of Olympic pools in London, Rio, and Tokyo—set her up to become the champion she is.
In the end, Katie’s story is about testing yourself against the difficult and seeing who you become on the other side.
Discussion Guide for Just Add Water
Katie talks a lot about the impact of her family, especially her grandparents on her career. How does this support system contribute to her success? Do you think she would have enjoyed the same success without it?
Katie seems to understand the weight of being a role model in the sport and out of the water. How does Katie take this job seriously? Do you think it’s an elite athlete’s job to be a role model? Teach the younger generation and give back to the community?
Katie talks about the media and its often time toxic impact on athletes, especially pitting two women against each other as rivals. Do you think this is all in the name of sport? How should the media work alongside athletes?
Michael, Katie’s brother, was the one originally interested in swimming. But when Katie started overshadowing his success, he changed directions. Have you ever had a sibling rivalry in the same sport or area of interest? How has this impacted your relationship? Do you think Michael was jealous of Katie’s success?
If you liked this memoir, check out Fierce by Aly Raisman - elite gymnast and Olympian.
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