Who is the next Michael Phelps?

Michael Phelps is the most dominating US athlete of all time, so who is waiting in his shadow?

The pessimistic answer is “no one.” There may never be an athlete as dominant as Phelps, who has won eight gold medals in one Olympics and 22 total in the five Olympics in which he’s competed.

Phelps is a physical freak, a man molded to swim, with a long powerful torso, huge extremities and his freakish wingspan (80 inches). Phelps also has extraordinary flexibility which allows him to do things many other athletes just can’t do. According to Adam Hadhazy of Scientific American, “his feet reportedly bend 15 degrees farther at the ankle than most other swimmers, turning his feet into virtual flippers.” As the most decorated American athlete in Olympic history, it’s difficult to imagine anyone being the next Michael Phelps, but there is a possibility.

That brings us to the optimistic answer: Katie Ledecky is the next Michael Phelps.  Ledecky is a monster in the pool and undefeated in her international career, as she has never lost a finals in any individual event.

Ledecky may not be the physical freak that Phelps is, but her tenacity and natural abilities make her the obvious choice to replace Phelps.  Standing at only 5-foot-11, Ledecky doesn’t physically intimidate her competitors, but her outstanding international competitive records sure do.  Michael may have won an unprecedented eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, but Ledecky owns the record for most medals by a woman with seven at the World Aquatics Championship.  Realistically, Phelps’ records may never fall but Ledecky has the most genuine chance to equal his feats.

Phelps is an all-around swimmer, as he competes in fly, freestyle and the individual medley (all four strokes). In contrast, Ledecky focuses only on freestyle, but she swims both long and short races.  Katie surprised the world by winning her first Olympic gold in the 800m freestyle in London at the age of 15.  Now a seasoned 19 years old, Ledecky is dominating her competition in the pool and already has three four gold medals.  Ledecky’s Friday night performance, where she blew away the field en route to another gold in world record time, was astounding to witness.

Ledecky is an absolute beast in the pool, and since 2012 has had multiple world record swims in the 1500m, 800m and 400m freestyle. While Ledecky has garnered 13 total world records, Michael Phelps has broken 39 total. It’s clear Phelps is a machine whose longevity is as incredible as his overall talents. Ledecky is only 19, and her best years of swimming should still be ahead of her. Bruce Gemmell, Ledecky’s coach has even hinted that she may take on more events in the future including individual medleys like Phelps.

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For all their differences Phelps and Ledecky share some similarities as well. Both swimmers are from roughly the same area, Phelps from Baltimore, MD and Ledecky from Bethesda, MD. They both swim for local all-year swim teams, Phelps with North Baltimore Aquatic Club and Ledecky with Nation’s Capital Swim Club. Swimming World Magazine has bestowed the athletes with Swimmers of the Year awards multiple times.

Katie is both the present and the future of US Swimming, and if she continues to improve, the sky’s the limit. Yes, even the rarified air currently enjoyed only by Phelps.