Katie Ledecky on How the Pandemic Changed the Games (Including Her Training Routine)

Katie Ledecky knows firsthand how the coronavirus pandemic affected the Tokyo Olympic Games (beyond the obvious year-long delay) and she’s giving us all of the details. 

PureWow recently sat down with the 24-year-old swimming champion, who now has the most individual gold medals of any female U.S. Olympian ever, to chat about her latest partnership with BIC Soleil Razors for its “Game On” campaign. The initiative focuses on the importance of having self-confidence and not being afraid to show it in hopes of inspiring others. 

During the interview, the gold medalist opened up about the effects the coronavirus pandemic had on getting ready for this year’s Games. 

“The first couple of months the normal training facilities were shut down, so I swam in a neighbor’s backyard pool for about three months. But then the normal training facilities opened back up and I was able to get back into my normal routine which was great,” Ledecky said before revealing that the family was one she “hadn’t met before.”

She continued, “I began swimming in their pool because it was very close to my apartment. So it worked out very well and I got to know the family well. They kind of became part of my family during that time—part of my pandemic bubble. And I'm just really grateful that they were able to let me swim there and kind of keep my eyes focused on my goals for the future and keep that training alive.”

And it wasn’t just her training that was affected, but the actual Games as well. “Of course the Olympics were a little different this year with no fans, all the protocols, but I just tried to enjoy it all,” Ledecky revealed. “I was kind of surprised how similar it felt to the other two games that I had been to before. My teammates were able to be in the stands cheering us on if they didn't have a race that day or if they were done competing. That gave me all the energy and confidence to know that I could still put out some great performances.”

That you did, Katie. 

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