2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

After racking up a total of five Olympic medals this week (four of them gold, and two of them world records), Katie Ledecky will shift into the same gear as young people across the world, transitioning into her freshman year of college. After soaking in the post-Olympic limelight, Ledecky will head off to Stanford University, and new student orientation starts up on September 20th.

“”It’s going to be exciting,” she said of Stanford after her world record-destroying 800 free. “I am heading home in a couple of days and I’ll have to get all my stuff for my dorm and get everything ready. It’ll be tough leaving home but I’m excited for the next chapter.”

While conversation always abounds about the amount of money a young swimmer could make by going pro, Ledecky is embracing what we can call the Missy Franklin route, emphasizing the importance of swimming on a college team.

“I’ve really enjoyed being an amateur, and I think there are some pressures that come with being a professional swimmer, and I don’t think I was ready for that,” she said. “I’m looking forward to having that college experience on the NCAA team at Stanford and I get to be on the team with Simone and Lia, and it’s going to be incredible.”

At Stanford, Ledecky will swim under Greg Meehan, two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year and the 2014 CSCAA National Swimming Coach of the Year. However, Ledecky says that Bruce Gemmell will always be part of her swimming.

“Greg will be my coach but I know that Bruce will always be heavily involved in my swimming,” she said. “He’s a great friend so I think he will always be a part of my life.”

After yesterday’s race, Gemmell and Ledecky shared an emotional moment.

“He was crying too, and if you know Bruce, he doesn’t cry very often, and I don’t cry very often,” she added. “It was just a very happy moment and it’s been incredible to share that journey with him.”