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Katie Ledecky Got Michael Phelps' Autograph When She Was 9

Ledecky, 19, is now well on her way to joining Phelps on the Mount Rushmore of U.S. swimming having racked up three gold medals in her young career, including two and counting in Rio de Janeiro

Years before people were lining up for Katie Ledecky's autograph, she was a young fan herself just trying to get a souvenir from swimming royalty, the "Today" show reports.

A photo shared by the Ledecky family with ESPN reporter Darren Rovell shows Ledecky, 9, beaming after getting an autograph from swimming legend and now-Olympic teammate Michael Phelps back in 2006.

At the time, Phelps had already swam in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Games in Athens, winning six gold medals in the latter.

Ledecky, 19, is now well on her way to joining Phelps on the Mount Rushmore of U.S. swimming, having racked up three gold medals in her young career, including two and counting in Rio de Janeiro.

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