Omaha (United States) (AFP) – Four years on from her breakout performance at the 2012 US Olympic swimming trials, Katie Ledecky returns for the 2016 edition as a bona fide superstar with a Rio berth solidly in her sights.
The 19-year-old’s ascent is duly noted with a massive portrait over one entrance to the CenturyLink Center — opposite a similar depiction of Olympic great Michael Phelps.
“I took a selfie with it!” Ledecky said of her larger-than-life likeness, although her Olympic year is almost certain to include plenty of other mementoes in the form of gold medals and world records.
Her surprise win in the 800m freestyle at the 2012 trials proved the springboard to Olympic gold in that event.
Since then Ledecky has become a dominant force in the sport, holding a hat-trick of world records in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m free and last year completing an unprecedented sweep of the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m free at the world championships in Kazan, Russia, where she also nabbed 4x200m free gold.
In all she’s set 11 world records since 2013.
While the US trials are notorious for their pressure-cooker atmosphere, the greatest suspense surrounding Ledecky as the trials begin on Saturday appears to be not whether she will qualify but rather how competitive she can be as she expands her range to tackle the 100m free in search of at least a relay team place.
“Obviously the 400 and the 800 are kind of my go-to races and the races I really, really love, but I do also really like the 100 and the 200 and I want to do just as well in those,” she said.
“It’s a meet like no other,” Ledecky added of the trials, where the top two finishers in each event secure individual Olympic berths.
“I still feel like all this is still really exciting. I went and got my goodie bag at registration today and was just as excited probably as everybody else getting them.”
– Phelps, Lochte duel again –
Phelps, whose 22 Olympic medals include 18 gold, has entered five events — the 100m and 200m free, the 100m and 200m butterfly and the 200m individual medley.
The 30-year-old has been coy on his precise plans for Rio, but won US national titles in the 100m and 200m fly and 200m medley last year.
Given his penchant for unprecedented feats, Phelps could be especially motivated in the 100m fly and 200m medley — both events in which he would be chasing a fourth straight Olympic gold.
The 200m medley also offers another tantalising chapter in Phelps’s long-running rivalry with Ryan Lochte, an 11-time Olympic medallist also back for more at the age of 31.
“I kind of don’t want to think it’s coming to an end,” Lochte said of his days of racing Phelps. “It’s just been so much fun and it made the sport that much better.
“He’s one of the world’s greatest swimmers, ever, and for me to be a part of that era and to be able to push him or even sometimes beat him, it’s definitely an honor — and it’s fun!”
Lochte’s definition of “fun” is flexible — and this year includes the demanding 400m individual medley Phelps has jettisoned from his programme.
“I love having a challenge,” Lochte said in confirming he would swim the event.
“The 400 IM, especially how old I am and how fast other young swimmers are, it’s going to be a challenge. It’s exciting.”
Among other big names, four-time Olympic gold medallist Missy Franklin is entered in 100m and 200m free and the 100m and 200m backstroke.
She won both backstroke titles in London and five golds at the 2013 world championships. But the ebullient Franklin has endured some doldrums since then, failing to capture individual gold at last year’s world championships.
Eight days of competition are sure to see new stars emerge as well, ready to challenge on the world stage in Rio.
“Somewhere out there is maybe that next Katie Ledecky,” said USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus. “That’s part of the fun of the trials.”
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