American swimming superstar Katie Ledecky has dominated the sport ever since arriving on the scene nearly half a decade ago. She has accomplished almost everything the world of swimming has to offer, becoming a nine-time Olympic gold medalist and 21-time world champion.

Behind the success of every sportsperson, there is unrelenting hard work and perseverance in training. And it isn't any different for her. In 2024, ahead of the Paris Olympics, where she won two golds, Ledecky gave an exclusive interview to EatingWell.

The all-accomplishing competitive swimmer not only talked about her weekly training regimen but also her daily diet. She said, "[For breakfast] I eat almost exactly the same thing every day just because it's what works for me in between practices and before practices. I'll have oatmeal with some peanut butter and a banana."

Oatmeal is a popular choice among athletes because of its high-fiber content. Peanut butter is a good option to fulfil the American swimmer's protein and fat needs, and bananas offer potassium that helps avoid cramps.

Katie Ledecky also revealed that her lunch ahead of her afternoon practice is basically eggs with whole-grain toast, with spinach or tomatoes mixed in at times. Eggs are important for her overall health since they have a mixture of protein and choline.

As for dinner, Ledecky opts for meat for protein, usually "chicken or steak or salmon," and to go with it, a salad, rice, or other vegetables. This is a common combination for athletes and bodybuilders as well.

Katie Ledecky's favorite snack and protein shake

Katie Ledecky likes to keep her gut health in check by eating berries. "I love berries. Just getting some extra fruit or vegetables in, that's usually my snack," she said.

The Olympic swimmer also shared that she used to drink a chocolate protein shake from Core Power, the brand that sponsored her, after practice and races.

"I drink it every day after my workouts and when I'm at competitions after my races," said Ledecky. "While I'm warming down, I'll grab a Core Power and drink it. I think it's just really great for my recovery to get that protein, the electrolytes, and nutrients that I need, especially with how hard I'm training right now, gearing up for Olympic trials and in Paris."

Katie Ledecky's training regime back then involved 25 to 30 hours of training a week, around 20 of which were spent in the pool, and the rest in the gym. This made it important for her to keep her diet in check, and it remains one of the pillars behind her success.

Nearly two years after this interview, the 29-year-old is still on top of her game on the hunt for more swimming triumphs.

Read more about your favorite swimmers at Swimmer's Club!

Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Yask Kotak