Katie Ledecky has come a long way from the 15-year-old who stunned the world in the 800m freestyle at the London Olympics 12 years ago, but her expectations remain the same for the 2024 Summer Games: excellence.
It's not just Ledecky who expects herself to walk away with more gold medals in her fourth Olympics. She's the betting favorite in both the 800 and 1500 freestyle races, the latter of which she won by more than four seconds in Tokyo in 2021.
Ledecky's future is less certain. She would be 31 when the Olympics come to the United States in 2028, though she has said she's definitely open to competing in a fifth Olympics if possible.
This year, Ledecky will stand out from many of her Team USA teammates in more ways the one. Here's what you need to know about Ledecky's height and how it compares to other U.S. swimmers.
MORE: How Katie Ledecky has stayed so far ahead for so long
How tall is Katie Ledecky?
Ledecky is 6 feet tall, which makes her taller than most other women's swimmers on Team USA.
Ledecky knows how to use every bit of her frame to her advantage, as she has seven Olympic gold medals and 10 Olympic medals overall. She also still holds world records in the 800 and 1500 freestyle races, making her the tallest women's record holder in the 800 freestyle since such data has been collected.
While height might not be an advantage in some sports, swimmers tend to be fairly tall. Many prominent male swimmers in the U.S. right now, from Caeleb Dressel to Ryan Murphy, stand well over 6 feet. On the women's side, though, it's tough to find many notable swimmers that can rival Ledecky's height. Missy Franklin, who is 6-2, was one major exception when she was active.
Here's a closer look at how Ledecky's height compares to some other swimming stars.
MORE: Katie Ledecky's Olympics timeline, from London to Paris
Katie Ledecky's height vs. other swimming stars
Even at 6-foot, Ledecky has a tough time matching up against the top swimmers on the men's side of competition. Robert Finke is 6-1, Caeleb Dressel and Ryan Murphy are both 6-3 and Hunter Armstrong is 6-6.
The legendary Michael Phelps is 6-4, with a 6-7 wingspan that only added to his already impressive frame.
On the women's side, though, Ledecky is considerably taller than some of her teammates. Here is how the 27-year-old measures up against notable Team USA swimmers this year.
| Swimmer | Height |
| Gretchen Walsh | 6-1 |
| Katie Ledecky | 6-0 |
| Paige Madden | 5-11 |
| Kate Douglass | 5-10 |
| Lilly King | 5-8 |
| Tori Huske | 5-8 |
| Regan Smith | 5-7 |
Ledecky is four inches taller than Lilly King and five inches taller than Regan Smith, but it's actually Gretchen Walsh who stands taller than her teammates. Walsh is 6-1, and she heads to Paris as the favorite in the 100 butterfly.
