Now it’s Olympic legend Michael Phelps lining up for an autograph from this year’s breakout swimming star, Katie Ledecky. It’s a scene that’s replayed itself thousands of times in the past 16 years – go to any swim family’s house, particularly those who live nearby Phelps’ Baltimore, and you’ll see the same sort of photo.
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The picture has made the rounds this Olympics, as Ledecky, now a full-fledged superstar herself, smashed the competition and earned a total of four gold medals and one silver in Rio.
The two re-created the now famous moment on NBC’s “Today” show on Monday, both sporting the same smiles they showed 10 years ago.
The recreation is like a symbol for the future of USA swimming as Phelps makes his exit and Ledecky continues dominating in the pool.
“Katie’s doing her thing and she’s breaking records every time she gets in the pool”, Phelps, 31, told “Today”.
Even the most decorated Olympian of all-time is a fan of Katie Ledecky.
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“We all looked up to him when we were 6 years old”, she said. “He’s really been a leader on this team and that’s why we came away with all these medals”.
