--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was six, right before I started…" description: "\"When I was six, right before I started swimming, we went to a national competition here in Maryland and watched Michael Phelps swim, and I got to meet ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/katie-ledecky-28251_afterwards_when-i-was-six-right-before-i-started-sw_3089272.jpg" --- # When I was six, right before I started swimming, we went… ![“When I was six, right before I started swimming, we went to a national competition here in Maryland and watched Michael Phelps swim, and I got to meet him afterwards, and I got his autograph. Fast forward nine years, and I'm at the Olympics with him, and it's like: 'Woah.'” quote by Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/katie-ledecky-28251_afterwards_when-i-was-six-right-before-i-started-sw_3089272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/katie-ledecky-28251_afterwards_when-i-was-six-right-before-i-started-sw_3089272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/katie-ledecky-28251_afterwards_when-i-was-six-right-before-i-started-sw_3089272.jpg) > “When I was six, right before I started swimming, we went to a national competition here in Maryland and watched Michael Phelps swim, and I got to meet him afterwards, and I got his autograph. Fast forward nine years, and I'm at the Olympics with him, and it's like: 'Woah.'” [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing a childhood idol become a teammate illustrates how dreams can become reality through perseverance. **In simple terms:** Dreams can become reality with perseverance. Key Takeaway Stay persistent; opportunities may arise unexpectedly. Themes sports inspiration dreams perseverance role models Mood inspirational proud Type motivational personal‑growth When to use this quote - athletics - personal development - public speaking Key Concepts Goal setting mentor relationships career progression Questions to Reflect On - What steps did you take to achieve this? - How can others emulate this path? A Different Perspective May set unrealistic expectations for others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autograph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autograph/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Maryland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maryland/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) ## Related quotes > [I informed the team three years before the Olympics that I was retiring from indoor. It's not as if I left six months before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/i-informed-the-team-three-years-before-the-olympics-that-i-was/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [My life goes in four-year cycles. The World Cup is every four years and the Olympics are every four years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-solo/my-life-goes-in-four-year-cycles-the-world-cup-is-every-four-years/) [Hope Solo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-solo/) > [I have been in kind of a sexual dry spell lately. In the past few years I've only had sex in months that end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/i-have-been-in-kind-of-a-sexual-dry-spell-lately-in-the-past-few/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [It eventually ends, and that's what I think a lot of athletes forget. It's 10 years after the Olympics, and you won the Olympics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/it-eventually-ends-and-that-s-what-i-think-a-lot-of-athletes-forget/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [“Jenna had started swimming in the deep end of the pity pool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/jenna-had-started-swimming-in-the-deep-end-of-the-pity-pool/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [I was 8 when I started swimming training, but it wasn't until I was 10 when it became more serious so over the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-was-8-when-i-started-swimming-training-but-it-wasn-t-until-i-was-10/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [I walked away from the sport for 17 years, then started swimming again recently in a master's program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/i-walked-away-from-the-sport-for-17-years-then-started-swimming-again/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [I started swimming. I frolic like Free Willy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pinette/i-started-swimming-i-frolic-like-free-willy/) [John Pinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pinette/) > [I got bored and then joined the British SAS. It was five very exciting years of my life, and then I'd always had this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-pugh/i-got-bored-and-then-joined-the-british-sas-it-was-five-very-exciting/) [Lewis Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-pugh/) > [I was very, very lucky because I started swimming when most of the landmarks in the world had not been swum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-pugh/i-was-very-very-lucky-because-i-started-swimming-when-most-of-the/) [Lewis Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-pugh/) > [“That’s where the fish first started swimming don’t tell me you didn’t see the bee fly out you saved yourself perhaps from wasps or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kharms/that-s-where-the-fish-first-started-swimming-don-t-tell-me-you-didn-t/) Daniel Kharms > [ When I started swimming again two years ago, it felt like I was starting from scratch. My mind-set was \[to tell myself that\] every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evans/when-i-started-swimming-again-two-years-ago-it-felt-like-i-was/) Janet Evans > [“Since Jenna had started swimming in the deep end of the pity pool, Archer was pretty much the only friend I had.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/since-jenna-had-started-swimming-in-the-deep-end-of-the-pity-pool/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [The only reason I started swimming was for water safety. Then, once I started falling in love with sports, I got more comfortable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-only-reason-i-started-swimming-was-for-water-safety-then-once-i/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I started swimming before I got into wrestling at, like, 4 years old, then I wrestled from, like, 5 years old through college, graduated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-started-swimming-before-i-got-into-wrestling-at-like-4-years-old/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) ## More by Katie Ledecky > [I hope that young girls will have the dream and will have experiences. And it might not be in swimming. It might be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/i-hope-that-young-girls-will-have-the-dream-and-will-have-experiences/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [And if I'm ahead, I can sometimes tell. It might mean I'm having a good swim, but pretty much, I'm just focused on how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/and-if-i-m-ahead-i-can-sometimes-tell-it-might-mean-i-m-having-a-good/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [I think we have the approach that every race is a sprint. Some races are just longer sprints than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/i-think-we-have-the-approach-that-every-race-is-a-sprint-some-races/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [I think the beauty of Catholicism is its consistency through both successes and difficulties. I've counted on my faith to give me strength through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/i-think-the-beauty-of-catholicism-is-its-consistency-through-both/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [I think Rowdy Gaines actually said something like: Katie Ledecky doesn't swim like a man. She swims like Katie Ledecky.And that was a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/i-think-rowdy-gaines-actually-said-something-like-katie-ledecky-doesn/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [After the 2013 World Championships, I had three goals for the Olympics: to swim 3:56 or better in the 400-meter freestyle, break 8:05 in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/after-the-2013-world-championships-i-had-three-goals-for-the-olympics/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [It's always great to see young swimmers and their excitement and the joy that they have in the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/it-s-always-great-to-see-young-swimmers-and-their-excitement-and-the/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [I try to make the good days great and take something positive from the days I'm not feeling good - work on technique or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/i-try-to-make-the-good-days-great-and-take-something-positive-from/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [My faith has always been important to me. It defines who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/my-faith-has-always-been-important-to-me-it-defines-who-i-am/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [I always just focus on what my own goals are, and not what anybody else's goals for me are or their expectations. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/i-always-just-focus-on-what-my-own-goals-are-and-not-what-anybody/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [You are always racing against the other swimmers, but I always try to just focus on what I'm doing and how I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/you-are-always-racing-against-the-other-swimmers-but-i-always-try-to/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [I would encourage you to set really high goals. Set goals that, when you set them, you think they're impossible. But then every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/i-would-encourage-you-to-set-really-high-goals-set-goals-that-when/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [There are a lot of young swimming fans that are on Instagram, so I try to respond or post things that they like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/there-are-a-lot-of-young-swimming-fans-that-are-on-instagram-so-i-try/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [I think our devotion to Mary is very beautiful. She has a sacred role in Catholicism, and her strong faith and humility are things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/i-think-our-devotion-to-mary-is-very-beautiful-she-has-a-sacred-role/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) > [I felt so relaxed. It just felt very easy, and that's why it surprised me that I had broken my world record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ledecky/i-felt-so-relaxed-it-just-felt-very-easy-and-that-s-why-it-surprised/) [Katie Ledecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) [Explore all 19 Katie Ledecky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ledecky/) ## More Afterwards quotes > [I didn't grow up in one of those restrictive Christian households where you couldn't do this or that. We were brought up with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-adams/i-didn-t-grow-up-in-one-of-those-restrictive-christian-households/) [Yolanda Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-adams/) > [When I work, I'm thinking in terms of purely visual effects and relations, and any verbal equivalent is something that comes afterwards. 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It's a rare experience for a thinking person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-play-i-m-so-in-the-moment-that-i-can-t-really-remember-what/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Professional camera crews are rarely there when a bomb goes off or a rocket lands. They usually show up afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/professional-camera-crews-are-rarely-there-when-a-bomb-goes-off-or-a/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I was just so focused on being healthy for my baby during pregnancy, and afterward I was not in a rush to lose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-miller/i-was-just-so-focused-on-being-healthy-for-my-baby-during-pregnancy/) [Marisa Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-miller/) > [You get yourself prepared for a big game, you get yourself up for it. Then afterwards you don't sleep or eat properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-giggs/you-get-yourself-prepared-for-a-big-game-you-get-yourself-up-for-it/) [Ryan Giggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-giggs/) > [I mention this fact as tending to support what I have often heard stated, namely, that a shark's sense of smell is so keen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-grey/i-mention-this-fact-as-tending-to-support-what-i-have-often-heard/) [George Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-grey/) > [Serious drama in a significant degree began at Harvard in the 1880s. In 1881, the Cercle Francais initiated the annual French play, and shortly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-lukas/serious-drama-in-a-significant-degree-began-at-harvard-in-the-1880s/) [J. Anthony Lukas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-lukas/) > [Scoring goals is the best feeling you can have. I always look up at the stand for my family straight afterwards; it means everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lampard/scoring-goals-is-the-best-feeling-you-can-have-i-always-look-up-at/) [Frank Lampard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lampard/) > [The only thing I find difficult to watch - horror movies - not that I don't like them. Like 'The Shining,' it's one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/the-only-thing-i-find-difficult-to-watch-horror-movies-not-that-i-don/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [My usual day is I get up around 11 o'clock and do yoga and then eat afterwards. 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I'm not responsible for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-kirk/once-you-walk-off-the-set-if-you-re-an-actor-the-rest-isn-t-your/) [Justin Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-kirk/) > [Iranians launched their constitutional revolution in 1906 and established their parliament soon afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/iranians-launched-their-constitutional-revolution-in-1906-and/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) Browse all 117 Afterwards quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was six, right before I started swimming, we went to a national competition here in Maryland and watched Michael Phelps swim, and I got to meet him afterwards, and I got his autograph. 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