Gold medalist Katie Ledecky of the United States. (Getty)
Katie Ledecky has been one of the most dominant swimmers in the world ever since her surprise victory in the 800-meter freestyle at the 2012 Olympics as a 15-year-old.
Now 19, she has won nearly 20 international medals and broken a dozen world records.
And she once again has the world’s attention with some stellar performances at the Rio Olympics 2016.
Ledecky has had a strong support system along the way, which includes her family.
Keep reading to learn more about Katie’s family:
1. Katie was Born in Washington, D.C.
Katie was born in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 1997, to Mary Gen (then-Hagan) and David Ledecky.
Katie was raised in Bethesda, Maryland, where she attended school. First at the Little Flower School and Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, where she graduated last year.
Her current home team is the Nation’s Capital Swim Club, which is based in the D.C. metro area.
2. Her Mother Mary for the University of New Mexico
Katie isn’t the only swimmer in the family.
Her mother Mary Gen swam for the University of New Mexico, where she was a freestyler. In fact, she was a standout in the pool, qualifying for the nationals.
Like mother, like daughter. Katie is the world-record holder in the 400-, 800-, and 1,500-meter freestyle events.
Mary Gen’s family is of Irish descent.
3. Her Father is an Attorney
Katie’s father, David, is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
He received his B.A. from Harvard in 1982 and his Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School in 1986.
David’s father came to the United States from Czechoslovakia in the late 1940s.
4. Katie’s Brother, Michael, Graduated From Harvard
Katie’s older brother Michael has been a huge influence in her life. She began swimming at 6 and credits her brother for getting her into the sport.
Michael is also a Harvard grad, finishing up his Bachelor’s in Government degree in May 2016.
While in Cambridge, Michael was the Associate Executive Sports Editor of the Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, and also served as color analyst for the men’s hockey team for the school’s radio station.
Currently, Michael is a litigation specialist for Bancroft PLLC in D.C.
Last summer he had an internship with the Washington Capitals of the NHL.
Michael also swam in high school.
5. Katie’s Uncle is a Majority Owner of the NHL’s Islanders
Jon Ledecky (Getty)
Michael isn’t the only Ledecky with a passion for hockey.
Jon Ledecky, Katie’s uncle and father’s brother, is a majority owner of the New York Islanders.
Ledecky, a New York native, took over the team on July 1, 2016, with Scott Malkin.
Jon Ledecky was a former minority owner of the Capitals and joined the Islanders in 2014.
He also studied at Harvard, earning a business degree in 1979 and getting his Master in Business Administration there in 1983.
Like Michael, Jon also worked for the Harvard Crimson.
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Katie Ledecky’s Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know