PHOTO: Katie Ledecky and Michael Jordan’s 2001 pic goes viral with eye-opening Olympic gold medal tally in focus
After making history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, American swimming superstar Katie Ledecky's 2001 photo with Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan went viral on social media.
On Thursday, Ledecky earned a silver medal in the women’s 4x200-meter freestyle relay. That marked her 13th medal across four Olympic appearances dating to 2012, making her the U.S.'s all-time most decorated female Olympian. She and Michael Phelps (28 medals) are the only swimmers in Olympic history to secure 13 or more medals.
Ledecky previously won gold in the women's 1500-meter freestyle and bronze in the women's 400-meter freestyle on Wednesday and Saturday. Thus, she has accumulated three medals during this summer's Olympics, with an opportunity to win another during the upcoming women's 800-meter freestyle.
"I guess it really hasn’t sunk in," Ledecky said Thursday. "Just because I have one more race — or two more swims left. But I guess to accomplish that with a relay feels fitting to me. I’ve been on that relay so many times over the years with so many great people. So, it’s really special to do it as part of a relay."
Shortly after Thursday's record-breaking performance, a 2001 picture of Jordan holding Ledecky as a young child went viral on X/Twitter. Sports business analyst Darren Rovell pointed out that Jordan was a two-time Olympic gold medalist at the time of the photo.
However, Rovell noted that Ledecky (eight Olympic gold medals and counting) has since far surpassed Jordan's gold medal count.
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Katie Ledecky's uncle sold his Washington Wizards stake the year Michael Jordan joined the franchise
As for Katie Ledecky's connection to Michael Jordan, Darren Rovell highlighted how the two crossed paths through her uncle, businessman Jon Ledecky.
The elder Ledecky partnered with then-America Online executive Ted Leonsis to found Lincoln Holdings, which purchased the NHL's Washington Capitals, NBA's Washington Wizards and WNBA's Washington Mystics. Ledecky reportedly invested $58 million in the ownership group in 1999.
Upon coming out of retirement for the second time, Jordan spent the final two seasons of his 15-year NBA career with Washington from 2001 to 2003. However, Ledecky sold his 24% stake in Lincoln Holdings back to Leonsis for an estimated $70-plus million in 2001, the year Jordan joined the franchise.
The Jordan-led Wizards ultimately missed the playoffs both years despite him earning back-to-back All-Star selections. The five-time MVP retired for good in 2003, with Ledecky later purchasing the NHL's New York Islanders alongside his ex-Harvard roommate Scott Malkin in 2014.
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