Katie Ledecky is following the path of Janet Evans, choosing to swim for Stanford after she graduates high school next year.
“I am thrilled to announce that upon completion of my high school education, I am committed to pursue my education at Stanford and very much look forward to the opportunity to swim for the Stanford Cardinal women’s team in NCAA competition,” Ledecky said in a press release. “I am very excited about the educational opportunities that will be available to me at Stanford and to swim for its great NCAA program under the leadership of coach Greg Meehan and assistant coach Tracy Duchac.”
Ledecky, 17, is the Olympic 800m freestyle champion and won four gold medals at the 2013 World Championships (400m free, 800m free, 1500m free and 4x200m free relay). She is the reigning female World Swimmer of the Year.
Ledecky holds American records in the 400m free, 800m free and 1500m free (world records in the latter two), marks once held by the four-time Olympic champion Evans, who won several NCAA titles in two years at Stanford two decades ago.
She will also take a similar path to Missy Franklin in not turning professional after graduating high school.
It looks like Ledecky will not swim against Cal’s Franklin in NCAA competition, however. Franklin is expected to turn pro one year before the Rio Olympics, after the 2015 NCAA Championships.
Go Card! 🌲❤️ pic.twitter.com/XXYHxv8pDI
— Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky) May 15, 2014