Watch Katie Ledecky Receive Phone Call from President Biden After Impressive Olympics Run: 'So Damn Proud' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Star swimmerKatie Ledeckyis celebrating a triumphant run at theParis Olympicswith a special message fromPresident Joe Biden.

In a video shared exclusively with PEOPLE, the athlete received a celebratory phone call from Biden, 81, marking her achievements.

“Katie, Katie, Katie. It’s Joe Biden. God love you. How’re you doing?” the politician asked from his desk in the Oval Office, to which Ledecky asked him the same.

Biden told the star he’s “better because of you,” and heaped praise on Ledecky, whom he awarded theprestigious Presidential Medal of Freedomin May.

Katie Ledecky receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in May 2024.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

“God, I’m so damn proud of you. I can take no credit except for being smart enough to give you the Medal of Freedom,” he said. “You are incredible.”

Ledecky then joked that it had been Biden’s advice to “bring home some medals” that inspired her success.

“You make us so damn proud, Katie. I really mean it,” Biden said. “It’s an honor to watch you. It really is.”

Katie Ledecky shows off her gold medal from the women’s 800-meter freestyle final on Aug. 3.Andy Cheung/Getty

Andy Cheung/Getty

“That meant a lot to us, so please thank her for me,” she said. “It’s such an honor to represent our country.”

A press release from the White House said the honor is given to those who “have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”

“Obviously, growing up in this area, I know what a huge honor this is,” Ledecky, who was born in Bethesda, Md., told theWashington Post. “I feel very connected to this area. I know this is a national kind of award, but to me it feels almost local. I get to come home for this for a couple of days. This is my community.”

source: people.com