Will Katie Ledecky Win Gold in Rio?

Numerous world records in swimming and support from stars like Michael Phelps have many people asking, will Katie Ledecky win gold at this year’s Olympic Games?

Katie Ledecky is perhaps the most promising athlete heading into the Rio Olympic Games. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she shocked the world and made US gambling news by winning gold in the 800-meter freestyle, and came extremely close to setting a new world record at 8:14:63. Perhaps even more impressive was that Ledecky was only 15 years old at the time, the youngest athlete in the London Games.

Many are wondering, will Katie Ledecky win gold again in Rio? Her performances in the 2013 World Championship’s say yes. She won gold in the 400, 800 and 1500-meter freestyle and set two world records. Ledecky was named 2013 swimmer of the year by swimming world magazine, and best female swimmer of 2013 by FINA aquatics world magazine.

Ledecky is receiving praise by Olympic stars

Michael Phelps has been extremely impressed by Ledecky’s results so far, and compared her to himself. “You can tell she is very goal oriented, and for me it brings me back to kind of what I was like way, way, way back in the day,” Phelps told TIME. “Every time she gets in the water, it’s like a world record. She is improving so much, and I think she is just trying to push that barrier, and I think it’s pretty exciting to watch her do that. Her stroke is phenomenal, how she transitions, and now the walls are great, her kick is great. She does the work, and it shows.”

Fellow Olympian and swimming analyst Rowdy Gaines is also singing Ledecky’s praises, telling the NY Times, “I’m at a loss for words sometimes when I think about what she has been able to do the last four years. She loves to train. She loves to be out there every day and loves that feeling. You don’t get that a lot, and I think that’s really helped her.”

Only time will tell if Ledecky can continue her winning ways, but the future looks very bright for the young American swimmer. Can Katie Ledecky win gold in Rio? That remains to be seen, but she is undoubtedly one of the athletes to watch.

What do you think? Will Katie Ledecky win gold for the USA? Leave your comments below and make sure to check out GamingZion’s list of online sportsbooks in the US to place your bets on the 2016 Olympic Games!