Olympic Stars Shine in Pickleball Court Banter: Katie Ledecky and Bobby Finke, fresh off their gold medal wins at the 2024 Paris Olympics, are enjoying some well-earned downtime. Recently, Finke traded his swimming paddles for pickleball paddles, sparking a playful exchange with his training partner. The two elite swimmers, who trained together under coach Anthony Nesty, have been finding ways to unwind after their intense Olympic preparations.
Finke posted a lighthearted Instagram update showing off his new paddles in a pickleball session in St. Petersburg, Florida. He captioned the post, “Different kind of paddles this morning,” highlighting his arrival into the increasingly popular sport.
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Katie’s Tongue-in-Cheek Reaction
Katie Ledecky was quick to join the fun, commenting humorously on Finke’s post. Her remark, “Wait, you use paddles?” poked fun at Finke’s crossover from the pool to the pickleball court. Finke doubled down on the joke in his reply, referencing his choice of the Alpha MK-1 Elite Carbon paddles in a dual-wielding format.
“only the Alpha MK-1 Elite Carbon 14mm Paddle in dual wielding format.” – (Finke)
The exchange captured the lighthearted friendliness between the two, a hallmark of their training dynamic as they prepared for the Paris Olympics.
Reflecting on the Training Group’s Impact
Ledecky has often credited her training group, which includes Finke and Kieran Smith, for pushing her to excel in the lead-up to Paris. After clinching a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle finals, Ledecky spoke candidly about the value of her support system, stating,
“It’s just a really special group and it’s why I love the sport so much because I get to spend everyday with people Bobby (Finke) and Kieran (Smith) and my coaches and everyone that believes in me and pushes me, and I think just the confidence I was able to have today is a testament to them.” – (Ledecky)
The trio trains under Anthony Nesty at the University of Florida, with Ledecky serving as a volunteer coach for the Gators. Both Finke and Smith have earned accolades at the NCAA level, while Ledecky has continued to mentor and inspire young athletes through her role.
The Golden Goggles Connection
Ledecky and Finke were also seen together at the 2023 Golden Goggles Awards, further showing their strong bond as teammates and friends. Events like these and their social media interactions highlight their shared commitment to excelling in the pool while enjoying lighter moments off it.
News in Brief: Olympic Stars Shine in Pickleball Court Banter
Katie Ledecky playfully teased Bobby Finke on Instagram after he shared glimpses of his pickleball session in St. Petersburg, Florida. The two Olympic champions have been unwinding post-Paris Games, where both clinched gold medals.
Their friendship extends beyond the pool, with Ledecky crediting her training group, including Finke and Kieran Smith, for her Olympic success. The trio trains under coach Anthony Nesty at the University of Florida, where Ledecky also serves as a volunteer coach.
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