CV NEWS FEED // A Aleteia A recent article highlighted nine-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky for her deep Catholic faith and outlined the three main ways she lives out that faith.

Katie Ledecky holds multiple world records and is the most decorated American woman in Olympic history and the fifth most decorated athlete in Olympic history, wrote Theresa Civantos Barber for August 10 Aleteia Article titled “3 Ways the World’s Best Swimmer Lives Her Catholic Faith.”

Barber referred to an interview with the National Catholic Register (NCR) when Ledecky said, “My Catholic faith is very important to me. It always has been that way and it always will be that way.”

Ledecky lives her faith by praying a Hail Mary before every race. In a 2016 interview, she explained, “It gives me peace to know that I’m in good hands… I think our devotion to Mary is very beautiful. She has a sacred role in Catholicism and her strong faith and humility are things we can learn from.”

She added: “I have relied on my faith, which gives me strength both in training and in competitions – but also in school, in my family and in everyday life.”

Ledecky is also known for her charitable work, such as advocating for refugees and volunteering at her high school, “even though she set all kinds of records,” Barber wrote.

Barber also pointed to a 2024 NCR article reporting on Ledecky’s efforts: “Ledecky has also volunteered as a teacher’s aide at her former elementary school, served meals to the homeless at Shepherd’s Table soup kitchen, and helped run Stone Ridge’s campus chaplaincy program, to name a few.”

Finally, Ledecky is known for her humility. Barber explained that Ledecky’s teachers and principals all “noticed her humility and welcoming attitude toward every swimmer on the team, no matter how new they were to the sport,” adding, “It can’t have been easy to remain humble as one of the greatest athletes of all time, but her faith keeps her grounded.”