"I can't believe Just Add Water is on bookshelves today"- Katie Ledecky delighted after her book launch

Katie Ledecky expressed excitement over the launch of her new book, Just Add Water: My Swimming Life. The book, which will take the reader on her journey from the Maryland pool to the Olympic stage, has already reached the bookshelves.

Ledecky sowed the seed of swimming in her heart at the age of six, inspired by her mother and older brother, Michael. She joined a team of the Montgomery County Swim League, a prominent Maryland league known for training beginners.

She grew up watching the 18-year-old kids swim in the pool, and Ledecky was often found hanging out with them. According to what people were told, she would either practice, play sharks and minnows, or take swimming lessons from them.

Ledecky unexpectedly won the 800-m freestyle gold at the 2012 London Olympics at just 15 years of age, which earned her two Golden Goggle Awards, the 2012 Best Female Performance of the Year and Breakout Performer of the Year. Fast forward to now, and the 27-year-old stands with seven Olympic golds and 21 World Championship golds, the most by a female swimmer in history.

In her memoir, Just Add Water: My Swimming Life, Ledecky shared personal insights and illustrated her journey from the Maryland pool to the pinnacle of swimming success. In a recent Instagram post, holding the paperback book up with a glow on her face, Ledecky announced that her memoir has reached the bookshelves.

"It’s here! I can’t believe Just Add Water is on bookshelves today. I’m so excited for you to read about my journey from my hometown pool to the Olympics, and grateful for all the love and support that got me here," she wrote.

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"Keeping pace with the male swimmers? Why not?" - Ledecky on pushing past her limits on the competitive stage

Ledecky's 800-m freestyle gold at the 2012 London Olympics made her the youngest swimmer to have achieved the feat. In her memoir, she acknowledged the people behind her success, even though her parents were initially skeptical of her medal chances.

Ledecky had a highly ambitious mindset, one that steered her journey forward and gave her reassurance.

"Keeping pace with the male swimmers? Why not? Shaving time off my records? Why not? Doing something significant every time I swim? Why not?" she wrote in her book, Just Add Water. (via The Associated Press)

At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, the 27-year-old surpassed Michael Phelps' record by earning her 16th individual gold, the most by any swimming athlete in history.

One of Ledecky's greatest career achievements, her memoir, was published by Simon and Schuster LLC on June 11, 2024.