Ledecky's time big time drops have come during the post-puberty growth spurt years when teenage girls commonly drop a ton of time. So as extreme as some of her swims have been, they fit a very common developmental pattern.
Unless they started in the sport late, big time drops as a female post-grad (or local equivalent) are far less common and tend to invoke the specter of Michelle Smith.
Ledecky's time big time drops have come during the post-puberty growth spurt years when teenage girls commonly drop a ton of time. So as extreme as some of her swims have been, they fit a very common developmental pattern.
Unless they started in the sport late, big time drops as a female post-grad (or local equivalent) are far less common and tend to invoke the specter of Michelle Smith.
