Olympic champion Katie Ledecky will return to her alma mater Stanford University in June to act as the 2025 Commencement speaker.
“It will be with special joy that I address Stanford’s Commencement ceremony and celebrate in June with the graduates of the Class of 2025,” Ledecky said. “I was thrilled when President Levin and student leadership extended the invitation on behalf of the class. Stanford has played such a pivotal role in my educational and athletic life, and I look forward to honoring the graduates of the Class of 2025 as they dive into the next phases of their lives.”
With 14 Olympic medals, Ledecky is the most decorated U.S. female Olympian in history, in addition to having the most Olympic gold medals (nine) of any female swimmer in history.
The Maryland native graduated from Stanford in 2020 with a degree in psychology and a minor in political science. While at the university, she worked in the Mind & Body Lab in addition to competing for the swim team under head coach Greg Meehan.
During her time at the Farm, Ledecky set 11 American records, won NCAA titles and broke 15 NCAA records. The Cardinal women’s swimming and diving team also won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2017 and 2018 and secured two Pac-12 Conference championships.
Ledecky received numerous accolades while at Stanford. In 2017 she was honored with the Al Masters award, which recognizes the student-athlete who meets the highest standards of academics, leadership and athletic performance. That same year, she was named the Division I Academic All-America Team Member of the Year across all NCAA sports.
Ledecky just recently received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in May 2024, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. The distinction made her the first swimmer to ever be awarded that honor in the 61 years since its inception.
Stanford President Jonathan Levin commented on the selection of Ledecky as this year’s Commencement speaker.
“Katie’s story reflects the spirit of Stanford. As a scholar, an athlete, a teammate, and a trailblazer, she models the power of staying curious and collaborative in pursuit of excellence,” Levin said. “Her accomplishments in the pool and beyond are a testament to her extraordinary drive and determination. She is an ideal speaker to encourage our graduates to redefine what is possible.”
The Commencement ceremony will take place in Stanford Stadium and is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on June 15th.
