Sample
  • Just Add Water

  • My Swimming Life
  • By: Katie Ledecky
  • Narrated by: Katie Ledecky
  • Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (33 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Just Add Water  By  cover art

Just Add Water

By: Katie Ledecky
Narrated by: Katie Ledecky
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.99

Buy for $14.99

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
activate_primeday_promo_in_buybox_DT

Publisher's summary

A candid and inspiring memoir from Olympic gold medalist, world champion, and one of the best swimmers ever to compete: Katie Ledecky.

Katie Ledecky has won more individual Olympic races than any female swimmer in history. She is a three-time Olympian, a seven-time gold medalist, a twenty-one-time world champion, eight-time NCAA Champion, and a world record-holder in individual swimming events. Time and again, the question is posed to her family, her coaches, and to her—what makes her a champion? Now, for the first time, she shares what it takes to compete at an elite level.

Again and again, Ledecky has broken records: those of others and, increasingly, her own. She is both consistent and innovative—consistent at setting goals and shattering them, and innovative in the way she approaches her training. A true competitor, she sets her goals by choosing the ones that feel the scariest. But, crucially, she never sacrifices the joy of competition, even in the face of adversity. Her positive mental outlook and a great support system provides the springboard to her success.

Just Add Water charts Ledecky’s life in swimming. It details her start in Bethesda, Maryland, where she played sharks and minnows and first discovered the joy of the pool; her early foray into the Olympics at the tender age of fifteen where, as the youngest member of the American team, she stunned everyone by winning her first gold medal; her time balancing competition and her education at Stanford University; how she developed a champion’s mindset that has allowed her to persevere through so many meets, even under intense pressure; and how she has maintained her dominance in a sport where success depends on milliseconds. You learn how every element of her life—from the support of her family to the tutelage of her coaches, from her childhood spent in summer league swimming to the bright lights of Olympic pools in London, Rio, and Tokyo—set her up to become the champion she is.

In the end, Katie’s story is about testing yourself against the difficult, and seeing who you become on the other side.

©2024 Katie Ledecky (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

What listeners say about Just Add Water

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    31
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    29
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Her humility

I loved hearing her story. Great family values and bonds. This is a great listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

It takes a village

I love This story of Katie and her family!! I also related to women's athletic opportunities in the 70's. or lack of.
What a treasure this story is.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great story about her life and accomplishments so far

I really liked this book. I don’t follow swimming other than if I happen to catch one of the meets during the Olympics but after listening to Katie tell about her life growing up, the incredible accomplishments she’s made I can’t wait to see what she does in Paris this year. I listened to this book through the eyes (ears) of a parent who has young kids just getting into their sports at an early competitive level. I can’t imaging how proud Katie’s parents must be of both their kids and how refreshing it was to hear a story of success where the star athlete was just a “normal” kid in the local community group. I’m proud that Katie swims for Team USA and I wish her the best as she continues to dominate.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Katie really gives of herself in this book!

This is the first book I've ever finished in a day and a half! I loved this book. Katie Ledecky does a beautiful job of telling her story, about how her life influences and experiences have contributed to her high ethical standards, both in and out of the pool, and how that has contributed to her success. Having grown up as a swimmer, and being a triathlete now, so much of this book rang true to me - things that are very hard to describe to other people. I think it helps to have a swimming background to appreciate this book, but it is not necessary. The book stands on its own merits. Katie Ledecky is inspirational on so many levels of life and sport. I am very glad she decided to share this insight into her world with the us.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I like Katy

I have always liked Katy since she burst into the scene in my reality. This book just shares a bigger slice of the reality of that as she traverses her life. Thanks Katy for laying it all out there.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • at
  • 06-15-24

Inspiring, uplifting, and positive with emphasis on family, friendships, love, kindness, and perseverance.

Katie Ledecky’s “Just Add Water” is a testament to family, friendship, perseverance, and kindness. She injects humor throughout the book. As you go through her journey you can’t help but feel so inspired. Her thoughtfulness on positive sportsmanship and camaraderie is infectious. But most importantly that’s emphasized is the love and priority of family. You see her life not just in the pool but what she values outside of it. Keeping balance and having positive, understanding people helps strengthen her life. You’ll want to play this on repeat!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Katie opens up on family, goals and her foundation

As a fellow rule follower and swimmer I loved Katie's story. Her stories about her grandparents and her connection to each one of them was really beautiful. She's such a bright light with great values. You don't need to be a swimmer to enjoy this well written book. Very inspirational.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well rounded person

Her life story is very touching. The story of her Marine grandpa really hit home. She is just a normal person who has achieved such greatness.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent memoir by one of the best swimmers ever

It isn’t often that I want to get a book immediately on the date of publication as I usually prefer to wait at least a couple weeks and see what the initial reviews look like. But when it came time to get this memoir by Olympic and world swimming champion Katie Ledecky, something told me that I needed to read or listen to this ASAP. And I am glad I did as it was a very enjoyable listen.

Something to note is that this memoir follows the tried-and-true format of talking about the author’s youth, their family and those who inspire them and their rise to the top of their sport or profession. Ledecky talks in great detail about her family, especially in the early chapters. Her brother Michael and she were both attracted to swimming early and while Michael hit the proverbial “wall” in his teens, Katie kept on swimming. There are also chapters about her parents and grandparents. The story of her grandfather who was from the Czech Republic was especially inspiring.

What made this memoir so good was the positivity expressed by Ledecky throughout the book. This was quite refreshing when she talked about her experiences during the worst of the COVID pandemic in 2020 that led to the postponement of that year’s Olympic games in Tokyo. Any disruption like that will lead to issues for Olympic athletes but between good fortune, good luck and a positive attitude, Ledecky was able to continue her training. No matter the subject, even when it is a very hard training session, she keeps an upbeat vibe to the book. One part of this attitude that I really enjoyed is when she was questioning why so many reporters were asking her about “disappointed” she was when winning a sliver medal in Tokyo instead of gold. She asks how can one be disappointed when you realize you are the second-best athlete in this race in the world?

I am glad that I listened to the audio version of this book instead of reading the physical copy or the e-book. Hearing Ledecky’s story in her own voice was powerful, energizing and meant a great deal more than simply reading the text. One will even learn more about the sport of swimming – great material for those who only follow the sport during Olympic years.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book

This was a great view into the swimming world. Loved how it was written, love how Katie read it. Overall, just loved it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!