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For years, extraordinary female athletes such as Serena Williams, Rose Lavelle, etc., have faced scrutiny or unfounded rumours regarding their gender identity. Recently, Katie Ledecky's sexuality has been a topic of interest, with people speculating that she might be transgender. So, is Katie Ledecky transgender?

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With 21 World Championship titles and seven Olympic gold medals, Katie Ledecky is considered one of the greatest swimmers of all time. Having risen to fame at 15 after winning the 800m freestyle gold at London 2012, Katie is now an Olympic champion at every distance from 200m to 1500m.

Katie Ledecky profile summary

Who is Katie Ledecky?

Kathleen "Katie" Genevieve Ledecky, an American competitive swimmer, was born in Washington, DC, on March 17, 1997. She was raised in the Bethesda, Maryland, suburbs by her parent, David Ledecky and Mary Gen (Hagan).

Katie fell in love with swimming at age six. She was inspired by her older brother, Michael and her mother, who was a college-level swimmer for the University of New Mexico. During her high school years at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Katie broke several long-standing American records, except the 100-meter breaststroke.

She earned an athletic scholarship to attend Stanford University, where she swam for coach Greg Meehan's team. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and minor in political science in December 2020 and graduated in June 2021.

Katie Ledecky’s swimming career

Katie Ledecky made her international debut at the 2012 London Olympic games aged just 15. She defeated reigning world champion Kate Ziegler, winning her first gold in the 800m freestyle – this was the start of her incredible Olympic journey.

Katie has since won 21 world championship gold medals and seven Olympic world medals, the most in female swimmers' history.

Why do people think Katie Ledecky is a man?

Is Katie Ledecky a man? Ledecky's sexuality rumours notably began because of what many termed "sexist commentary" at the Rio Olympics when several high-profile individuals remarked that she swims like a man.

At the Rio Olympics, Ledecky was exceptional, winning one silver and four gold medals. While reporting about her performance during Sunday night's broadcast, NBC's Rowdy Gaines proclaimed:

While still in the Rio Olympics, Connor Jaeger talked to the Washington Post about Katie. He said,

In addition to the “sexist commentaries,” people think Ledecky is transgender because of her masculine physique, powerful strokes and unusual blend of endurance and speed.

Is Katie Ledecky trans?

Is Katie Ledecky male or female? No, Katie Ledecky is female. She is one of the most decorated US female Olympians in individual events. She is a 21-time world championship gold medallist and 10-time Olympic medallist – which is exceptional.

Who is better between Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky?

Katie Ledecky’s dominance in the pool, marked by winning multiple medals and setting new world records, has led to comparisons with her male counterparts, particularly Michael Phelps.

Michael Phelps, born on June 30, 1985, is the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time.

Michael has 28 medals, and his all-time 23 Olympic gold medals are more than double the count of his nearest rival. Katie Ledecky has won only seven Olympic gold medals. However, Katie Ledecky has the most individual golds at world championships.

Katie Ledecky and Lia Thomas NCAA championship comparison

The national media became super obsessed with Lia Thomas when she entered the women's NCAA swimming scene in 2021. She got the kind of attention rarely given to swimming athletes outside the Olympics.

Lia Thomas is good but not even a quarter close to Serena Williams in her field. So, why was the media so hyped about her? Simple, Lia was a transgender athlete competing in women's sports.

In 2022, Lia became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division 1 national championship in the 500-yard freestyle event – her last college competition. This made people compare her with Katie Ledecky, one of the most decorated female athletes.

So, who's better between, Katie Ledecky and Lia Thomas? Despite winning the 2022 NCAA Division 1 championship in the 500-yard freestyle event, Thomas is still behind Katie Ledecky's record by some seconds. Katie Ledecky's record is at a spectacular 4:24.06 seconds, while Thomas clocked an impressive 4:33.24 seconds.

In addition, Lia Thomas didn’t break any records at the NCAA event, while Kate Ledecky set 15 NCAA records.

FAQs about Katie Ledecky

Final word on Katie Ledecky

Is Katie Ledecky transgender? No, Katie Ledecky was born female, and today, she's one of the most decorated female swimmers of all time. She began breaking records at 15 when she won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Tuko.co.ke has shared an article about the richest athletes in the world by their net worth. From football and tennis to Formula One racing, athletes around the globe have amassed fortunes that transcend celebrity status, making them some of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. So, who are the top richest athletes? Read this article for more.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

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