KAZAN, Russia — For four days at the world championships, Katie Ledecky hauled the weight of the United States’ sterling swimming reputation by herself. While New Zealand, Chile, Jamaica and Iceland put athletes in individual finals, the American team, which had won 182 gold medals in the previous 15 world championship meets, saw only Ledecky rise to the very top.
How bittersweet it must have been for Ledecky, who values team success above her own, to return to the hotel night after night with another gold medal, another miniature stuffed animal and another floral bouquet, and join teammates who were empty-handed.