Yes, the nine-time Olympic gold medalist considers a rest day to be, as she told E! News in an exclusive interview, “a day when I only have one practice.” It’s probably safe to say she has her physical routine and diet a science.
“So I usually have morning practice at six in the morning,” Katie said, “so I’m up around five. At that time, I’ll usually just have a quick snack, like a banana and some quick oatmeal.”
After her swim, she has a weight training routine, so it isn’t until around 9:30 or 10 “when I’ll have a bigger meal,” she went on, “a two-egg omelet, scrambled eggs, or hard-boiled eggs, with some veggies and fruit and toast.”
But that’s only the morning program.
“I will eat a late lunch, a sort of larger snack, before my swim practice in the afternoon,” she said concerning her preparation for her second exercise routine, “and then afterwards, I will have dinner.”
In any case, when all is said and done, Katie revealed that she spends “about 25 to 30 hours a week in the pool and in the gym.”
But, the four-time Olympian’s training regimen is more than just physical. “The mental aspect of being prepared is just as important to Katie, who loves delving into the science behind staying in top shape.”
“I really enjoy those hours outside the pool and the weight room,” Katie Ledecky said, “because there’s always something new, I learn about nutrition, sleep and recovery. I try to hone in on those areas as I get older.”
And when a day ends after just one swim session?
“I try to squeeze in a nap, put my feet up,” she explained. “Maybe read a book, watch a little TV, whatever helps take my mind off swimming while I keep up the habits that will carry me into the next workout.”
That mindset is a big part of why the 28-year-old remains at the top of her game. In fact, last fall she shaved her own record, becoming the first woman to swim 1650 meters in under 15 minutes. Though the spotlight follows her onto the pool deck, her focus stays inward.
“I go into every meet aiming to be as confident as I can,” she explained to E! News. “It’s the training that I’ve done-previously just thinking about all that work and all those habits, even the stuff outside of the pool and gym-that’s what gives me confidence before each race.”
One competition she’s already gearing up for is the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. While that’s still a little more than two years away, Katie Ledecky describes it as feeling “right around the corner.”
As she looks ahead to what would be her fifth Olympics, she’s staying fully immersed in training and competition. The goal, she said, is to “be as prepared as I can be for LA and gradually build both the training and the excitement as we get closer.”
True to form, preparation extends beyond the pool. Nutrition remains a constant focus, and part of that routine includes keeping a carton of Eggland’s Best eggs stocked at home.
“They were always my mom’s go-to at the grocery store,” she shared. “And ever since I’ve been cooking for myself and doing my own shopping, they’ve been my go-to too.”
While she hasn’t followed fellow record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps in eating eight eggs a day, eggs still play a regular role in her meals. Sitting down to a plate of the protein-rich staple has long been “a good constant,” thanks to what it offers nutritionally.
“They’ve got really great nutrition and definitely help me recover from workouts and get ready for the next ones,” she explained. “I know I can count on what eggs provide.”
As Ledecky prepares to extend her historic run in the pool toward 2028, the focus remains steady. Keep reading to see how she and her fellow Olympians made history at the 2024 Paris Games.
Katie Ledeckey
Having gained gold in the 1500m freestyle, silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay, and bronze in the 400m freestyle events at the Paris Olympics, she became the most decorated female Olympic athlete from the United States.
Being the most decorated female swimmer in the history of the Olympics, she has 13 Olympic medals in her career.
Léon March
Marchand Mania was at its height during the men’s 200m breaststroke final when the French swimmer shattered an Olympic record by posting a time of 2:05.85. This is his third gold medal in the Paris Olympic Games and makes him one of the best athletes in the competition so far.
Jessica Fox
With the gold in K1, Fox achieved a unique feat of winning four consecutive Olympic medals in the same event, having previously collected bronzes at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, as well as a silver at London 2012. Three days on, she topped the podium in C1 to become the most decorated Olympic slalom paddler in history.
Pan Zhanle
The Chinese swimmer broke the world record in the 100m freestyle event, touching the wall at 46.40 seconds, thus taking the gold medal. This is an improvement of four tenths of a second from the previous record he had set.
Cassandre Beaugrand
After overcoming the Seine and pedaling and walking through Paris, Beaugrand brought home France’s first Olympic gold medal in triathlon with a time of 1:54:55.
Adriana Ruano Ol
Ruano Oliva, a former Olympic gymnast, created history for her country, Guatemala, by winning the first-ever Olympic gold medal for her nation, with a total of 45 points in the women’s trap shooting competition.
Gabriel Medina
Medina broke a new Olympic record in surfing by scoring a single-wave score of 9.90, the highest score recorded in the sport since its inception at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. The achievement went viral as Medina rode out of a gigantic barrel wave.
José Torres
Gil Torres Gil won the gold medal in the men’s park final, securing the first Olympic medal for Argentina in cycling competitions. This was also the first medal for the country at the Paris Olympics and the first Olympic gold medal since the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Simone Biles
Already regarded as the GOAT, Biles cemented her place as the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast in history when she claimed her eighth career medal, her fifth gold, in the women’s team all-around final. This was followed by a gold medal in individual all-around.
Italy Women’s Gymnastics Team
Angela Andreoli, Alice D’Amato, Manila Esposito, Elisa Iorio, and Giorgia Villa took the silver in the women’s team all-around, giving Italy its first medal in the event since 1928.
Brazil Women’s Gymnastics Team
Rebeca Andrade, Jade Barbosa, Lorrane Oliveira, Flavia Saraiva, and Julia Soares also achieved a historical milestone by winning the bronze medal, marking the first medal for Brazil in the women’s gymnastics team event competition.
