The graduate: What Katie Ledecky learned at Stanford and how it might make her faster

Already the owner of five Olympic gold medals, 15 world titles and three world records, Ledecky is on the cusp of a third Summer Games, one that can only further solidify her as one of the sport’s all-time greats. On Monday, she will race the 400-meter freestyle, the first of four events on her ambitious trials program. If all goes as planned, Ledecky will qualify to compete in at least five events at the Tokyo Olympics: the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle races, plus the 4×200 relay. There’s an outside chance she’ll also get tapped for the 4×100 relay team, which would potentially allow her to top her five-medal haul from the Rio Games.