When Katie Ledecky gets ready to swim, people stop what they are doing.
The clock becomes a central player in the event as people monitor it to see where she’s at in relation to her best time — which is a world record in most cases.
The noise builds palpably from the start of the race, to the high-pitched shrill you’d usually hear only with two outs in the ninth at a baseball game or a crowd waiting for the final encore of a legendary band on a farewell tour.
But the only thing Katie Ledecky can relate to in the latter metaphor is the rhythm. It’s what gets her through the race, keeps her focused, and makes her stay within herself while setting the world ablaze in her signature events.
Read USA Swimming
