Fresh off another stellar showing at the 2026 USA Swimming Pro Series, Katie Ledecky took a moment to honor her cherished grandmother, Kathleen Hagan. Kathleen resides in Williston, North Dakota, with her husband, Dr. E.J. Hagan, the trailblazer who brought the town its first indoor pool.
Ledecky’s family legacy runs deep: she is also closely bonded with her paternal grandmother, Berta Ledecky, who was born in 1933 to a Czech-Jewish family in New York and once served as a translator for Albert Einstein.
Katie Ledecky’s Message for Her Grandmother
At the Swimming Pro Series, Ledecky won the women’s 1500m freestyle final on January 14, posting a time of 15:23.21, the second-fastest ever, behind her own world record of 15:20.48. She also competed and won the 400m freestyle (4:00.54) and 800m freestyle (8:10.16), further cementing her reputation as the best swimmer in the world.
In an Instagram post, Ledecky shared a few images of herself alongside Kathleen Hagan and wished her a happy 100th birthday.
“Grandma Hagan is 100! ❤️🥳💯 The best role model for living a life filled with love and joy. Grateful for all these years and memories together, and all that I continue to learn from her. 💕,” she wrote.
Many of Ledecky’s USA Swimming teammates commented on the post, including Lily King, who wrote: “The famous Grandma Hagan!!! Congrats on 100 incredible years!!! Glad you get to celebrate together today🎉”
Anna Peplowski, who represented the U.S at the Paris Olympics and 2023 World Championships, said: “This is amazing🥹”
100m freestyle Olympic gold medalist Simone Manuel also wrote: “Happy birthday Grandma Hagan! So special! ❤️,”
Before making waves at the Swimming Pro Series, Ledecky dazzled at the Katie Ledecky Invitational at the University of Maryland in December 2025, breaking the 15-minute barrier in the 1650-yard freestyle.
Ledecky Reveals Her Goals for the New Year
2025 was kind to Ledecky, who added more medals to her impressive resume and set world records. At the World Championships in Singapore, she earned three medals, including gold in the 1500m and 800m freestyle events. She also broke the 800m freestyle world record at the TYR Pro Swim Series, clocking 8:04.12.
In a recent interview with EatingWell, Ledecky spoke about her goals for the new year:
“I’m not really someone who sets New Year’s resolutions, but the new year is always an exciting time for me. We’re training really hard, and we start racing more. Winter is a tough training period, so this is when I really double down on my habits – getting eight or more hours of sleep, eating well, taking naps when I can and focusing on recovery. I think everyone reevaluates their habits at this time of year, and I’m no different.” she said.
Ledecky aims to maintain her extraordinary form this year, but with no major events like the World Championships or Olympics on the calendar, she may finally enjoy a well-earned respite.
