Ledecky: U.S. ‘future’ already arrived
Team USA swimmer Katie Grimes should be on your radar.
The 15-year-old distance freestyle swimmer placed second behind U.S. teammate Katie Ledecky in their qualifying heat for the 800 meters — Grimes’ Olympic debut. Ledecky nabbed first in 8:15.67, ahead of Grimes’ 8:17.05, as they finished with the two fastest times in quali- fying.
Ledecky and Grimes — dubbed “Katie squared” by Ledecky — will swim head-to-head again in the final Friday night (9:45, NBC).
Grimes, who turned 15 in January, is the youngest American Olympian in Tokyo. The Las Vegas native is also the youngest U.S. Olympic swimmer since Amanda Beard, who made the 1996 team at age 14.
After the U.S. trials in June, Ledecky, a six-time gold medalist who won the 1,500 meters on Tuesday, told Grimes she is the “future.” Fastforward to the Tokyo Olympics, when Grimes placed second in the 800 freestyle, and Ledecky had a different outlook about the teen swim prodigy.
“I told her after [the U.S. trials], I was like, ‘You’re the future. That was an incredible time,’ ” Ledecky said in a press conference. “And when I got over to her [after the 800], I told her, ‘Heck yeah I mean you’re the now. You’re the present.’ ”
After qualifying last month, Grimes expressed her excitement to be competing alongside Ledecky.
“I am very honored, she is helping so much already. I used to think it was just cool that we had the same first name, but now we’re gonna be on the team together,” she said. “I’m speechless right now, I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am.”
jlemoncelli@nypost.com