Katie Ledecky named AP Female Athlete of the Year

UF swimmer Katie Ledecky
UF swimmer and volunteer coach Katie Ledecky was named The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. (Courtesy of UAA)
Courtesy of UAA

Gators Volunteer coach Katie Ledecky was named The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year the Associated Press announced Wednesday morning.

UF swimmer Katie Ledecky wins The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year
Courtesy of UAA UF’s Katie Ledecky became the first female swimmer to win the AP Female Athlete of the Year multiple times.

This is the second time Ledecky has won the award (2017), becoming the first female swimmer to do so, and joins Michael Phelps as the only swimmers to win the award multiple times. The award is selected by a panel of 40 sports writers and editors from news outlets across the country.

In a record-setting 2022, Ledecky claimed four gold medals at the 2022 FINA World Championships in June, sweeping the 400-meter free, 800 free, 1500 free, and was part of the 4×200 free relay that took gold. The Gators volunteer coach was the only woman to win multiple events on the global stage and was the fourth time she has swept the women’s distance events at the World Championships.

Earlier this month, Ledecky broke her own U.S. Open 400 free record, clocking 3 minutes, 59.71 seconds, part of her three titles during the event. She was the first female to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Trials.

At the FINA World Cup in October, Ledecky shattered the world record in the SCM 1500 free at 15:08.24, nearly 10 seconds ahead of the previous record, while setting an American record and the second-fastest ever swim of 3:52.88 in the SCM 400 free.

At the 2022 Golden Goggles, Ledecky won three awards, including 2022 Female Athlete of the Year. It marked the eighth time she has claimed the award (2013-2018, 2021, 2022), passing Phelps for the most in USA swimming history.

Ledecky is in her second season on staff after joining in September of 2021.

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