Katie Ledecky

Budapest, Hungary – Jul 25, 2017. Competitive swimmer Ledecky (USA) swimming freestyle. FINA Swimming World Championship Preliminary Heats in Duna Arena. katacarix/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky

Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.

Date of Birth: March 17, 1997

Ethnicity:
*father – Czech, Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – Irish

Katie Ledecky is an American competition swimmer. Perhaps the most decorated female swimmer of all time, she has won seven Olympic gold medals, 21 world championship gold medals, and a record 16 individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships. She holds the record in the women’s 800- and 1500-meter freestyle, and the fastest-times in the women’s 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard freestyle events; and has held the world record in the women’s 400-meter freestyle. At the 2012 London Olympics, she won the gold in the women’s 800-metre freestyle; at the 2016 Rio Olympics, she won four gold medals and one silver medal; and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she won two gold medals and two silver medals. She is 6′0″.

She is the daughter of Mary and David Ledecky. Her father is of approximately half Czech and half Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Her mother is of Irish ancestry. Katie was raised Catholic.

Katie’s uncle is businessperson Jon Ledecky, who co-owns NHL team New York Islanders and their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Katie’s mother swam at the University of New Mexico, while Katie’s maternal grandfather was a decorated combat surgeon in World War II.

Katie’s paternal grandfather was Jaromir “Jerry” Ledecky (the son of Jaroslav Ledecky and Jarmila Horčičková). Jaromir was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and was an economist. He came to the U.S. in 1947. Jaroslav was the son of Josef Ledecky and Anna Rebcová.

Katie’s paternal grandmother is Berta Ruth Greenwald (the daughter of Milton Henry Greenwald and Eleanor Tecla Stoll). Berta was born in New York City, New York. She lost relatives in the Holocaust. Milton was born in New York, the son of Simon Greenwald and Bertha Deutsch, who were Hungarian Jews. Eleanor was born in New York, the daughter of Karl A. “Charles” Stoll, who was Swiss, of part German descent, and possibly not of Jewish background; and of Babette “Bertha” Wyler, who was a Swiss Jew, with partly German Jewish, French Jewish, and Alsatian Jewish ancestors. Charles and Bertha married in New York.

Katie’s maternal grandfather was Edward Jordan Hagan (the son of Edward Jordan Hagan and Joan Garvey). Katie’s grandfather Edward was born in North Dakota, to Canadian parents, from Ontario. Katie’s great-grandfather Edward was the son of James Hagan, who was Irish, and of Anne Jordan. Joan was the daughter of Patrick J. Garvey and Mary Heffernan.

Katie’s maternal grandmother is Kathleen Frances O’Connor (the daughter of Charles O’Connor and Mary Ellen Buckley). Kathleen was born in Montana, and is of Irish origin. Charles was the son of Daniel O’Connor and Mary MacDonald. Katie’s great-grandmother Mary Ellen was the daughter of John M. Buckley and Mary Maloney.

Sources: https://www.youtube.com
https://www.timesofisrael.com
https://www.washingtonpost.com
http://www.si.com

Genealogy of Katie Ledecky – https://www.geni.com

Marriage record of Katie’s paternal great-grandparents, Milton Henry Greenwald and Eleanor Tecla Stoll – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Katie’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Karl A. “Charles” Stoll and Babette “Bertha” Wyler – https://www.familysearch.org

Katie’s maternal grandfather, Edward Jordan Hagan, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Katie’s maternal grandfather, Edward Jordan Hagan – http://www.willistonherald.com