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Gold-medalist Ledecky eases back into being Katie the teen

Katie Ledecky, just 15, is using her school, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, as a sanctuary from her sudden celebrity after winning a gold medal in swimming at the London Olympics.

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Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky poses for a photo with Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and a fake Wheaties box cover at his office in Rockville. Ledecky, a swimmer, and slalom kayaker Scott Parsons were given framed proclamations by Leggett at the reception in their honor.

Linda Davidson / THE WASHINGTON POST

Katie Ledecky, who won the 800-meter freestyle at the London Olympics, poses for a picture for Kyna Carr, center, and Brenda Lines-Pickney right, at a reception at the county offices in Rockville.

Katie Ledecky, who won the 800-meter freestyle at the London Olympics, poses for a picture for Kyna Carr, center, and Brenda Lines-Pickney right, at a reception at the county offices in Rockville.

Linda Davidson / THE WASHINGTON POST

Caela Chappell, left, and Emma Eustace, both 10, chat with Katie Ledecky after the reception. Around 6 feet tall, with a lengthy swimmer’s wingspan, Ledecky sticks out in any crowd, even without a gold medal. But she is slipping back into her teen character and trying to stay humble.

Caela Chappell, left, and Emma Eustace, both 10, chat with Katie Ledecky after the reception. Around 6 feet tall, with a lengthy swimmer’s wingspan, Ledecky sticks out in any crowd, even without a gold medal. But she is slipping back into her teen character and trying to stay humble.

Linda Davidson / THE WASHINGTON POST

Katie Ledecky and Olympic slalom kayaker Scott Parsons are honored at the reception. Ledecky, 15, was the U.S. team’s youngest Olympian this summer.

Katie Ledecky and Olympic slalom kayaker Scott Parsons are honored at the reception. Ledecky, 15, was the U.S. team’s youngest Olympian this summer.

Linda Davidson / THE WASHINGTON POST

Katie Ledecky shakes hands with fans at the reception. She has recently started her sophomore year at Stone Ridge. “I think everyone knows that I want to return to a normal life, and I want it to be normal for them too,” Ledecky said. “I don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable at all.”

Katie Ledecky shakes hands with fans at the reception. She has recently started her sophomore year at Stone Ridge. “I think everyone knows that I want to return to a normal life, and I want it to be normal for them too,” Ledecky said. “I don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable at all.”

Linda Davidson / THE WASHINGTON POST

Katie Ledecky lets fans touch her medal at the reception. When asked at another event whether the gold medal is heavy to wear, she said that it is but that she is getting used to it.

Katie Ledecky lets fans touch her medal at the reception. When asked at another event whether the gold medal is heavy to wear, she said that it is but that she is getting used to it.

Linda Davidson / THE WASHINGTON POST

Classmates from Stone Ridge greet Katie Ledecky, not pictured, on her arrival from the London Olympics at Dulles International Airport in early August.

Classmates from Stone Ridge greet Katie Ledecky, not pictured, on her arrival from the London Olympics at Dulles International Airport in early August.

John McDonnell / THE WASHINGTON POST

Classmates embrace Katie Ledecky on her arrival from the London Olympics at Dulles Airport. She told her fellow high-schoolers at a recent assembly that “just being around you guys” has helped keep her humble.

Classmates embrace Katie Ledecky on her arrival from the London Olympics at Dulles Airport. She told her fellow high-schoolers at a recent assembly that “just being around you guys” has helped keep her humble.

John McDonnell / THE WASHINGTON POST

Katie Ledecky takes off from the starting blocks to in the 800-meter freestyle. She gave a dominating performance, winning her gold medal by four seconds. She touched first in the 800-meter freestyle with a time of 8 minutes, 15.63 seconds, lowering lowered Janet Evans' American record of 8:16.22 set on Aug. 20, 1989.

Katie Ledecky takes off from the starting blocks to in the 800-meter freestyle. She gave a dominating performance, winning her gold medal by four seconds. She touched first in the 800-meter freestyle with a time of 8 minutes, 15.63 seconds, lowering lowered Janet Evans' American record of 8:16.22 set on Aug. 20, 1989.

Toni L. Sandys / THE WASHINGTON POST

Katie Ledecky competes in a women’s 800-meter freestyle swimming heat in London.

Katie Ledecky competes in a women’s 800-meter freestyle swimming heat in London.

David J. Phillip / AP

Toni L. Sayndys THE WASHINGTON POST

/ Katie Ledecky swims to a first-place finish. Pretty soon she will start a grueling training schedule again, swimming laps while most of her classmates are asleep, to prepare for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Katie Ledecky reacts as she looks to the clock after swimming to a first-place finish.

Katie Ledecky reacts as she looks to the clock after swimming to a first-place finish.

Toni L. Sandys / THE WASHINGTON POST

Katie Ledecky, right, is all smiles after winning the 800-meter freestyle.

Katie Ledecky, right, is all smiles after winning the 800-meter freestyle.

Toni L. Sandys / THE WASHINGTON POST

Katie Ledecky parades the pool deck with a flag and her gold medal.

Katie Ledecky parades the pool deck with a flag and her gold medal.

Toni L. Sandys / THE WASHINGTON POST

Silver medalist Mireia Belmonte Garcia of Spain and bronze medalist Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain look on as gold medallist Katie Ledecky of the United States waves to the crowd on the podium during the medal ceremony. She got to keep the special gray Nike jacket, she told students when asked a school assembly. “Yeah,” she said. “We all looooove swag.”

Silver medalist Mireia Belmonte Garcia of Spain and bronze medalist Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain look on as gold medallist Katie Ledecky of the United States waves to the crowd on the podium during the medal ceremony. She got to keep the special gray Nike jacket, she told students when asked a school assembly. “Yeah,” she said. “We all looooove swag.”

Al Bello / GETTY IMAGES

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