Ledecky makes splash at awards

World championships haul earns American prestigious AP prize

Katie Ledecky got her start in swimming because she just wanted to make friends. Her brother was eager to join a team at a pool near their house and as a six-year-old, she tagged along.

By summer's end, the Ledecky siblings had made 100 friends ranging in age from six to 18. Some of them remain good friends with Katie, who went on to become the world's best swimmer in the post-Michael Phelps era.