Swimming icon Katie Ledecky is increasing her medal count.
The decorated Olympian, who is a seven-time gold medalist, is now the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden on Friday, the White House announced.
The 27-year-old Ledecky will be looking to continue adding to her sterling credentials — her six individual gold medals are the most for a female swimmer — when the Paris Olympics kick off on July 26.
Deemed an “athletic prodigy” by the White House, Ledecky will arrive at the Olympics with 21 world championship gold medals and world records in the 800- and 1,500-meter freestyles.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is dubbed the “Nation’s highest civilian honor” and is given to individuals who “have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”
“Obviously, growing up in this area I know what a huge honor this is,” the Washington, D.C. native said. “I feel very connected to this area. I know this is a national kind of award, but to me it feels almost local. I get to come home for this for a couple of days. This is my community.”
She was joined by 18 others receiving the honor, with the late track and field and football star Jim Thorpe receiving the award posthumously.
Thorpe, the first Native American to win gold for the U.S. at the 1912 Games in decathlon and pentathlon, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
Former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg and politicians Al Gore, Jim Clyburn, John Kerry and Nancy Pelosi were also among the 2024 recipients.
Among previous sports winners are gymnast Simone Biles and USWNT star Megan Rapinoe, awarded by Biden in 2022, and golfer Tiger Woods, NBA star and executive Jerry West and, posthumously, Baseball Hall of Famer Babe Ruth, by Donald Trump.
