Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky recreated their famous 2006 photo

In 2006, Michael Phelps was at an autograph signing when a smiling 9-year-old swimmer, just like dozens in line before and after her, posed for a picture with the Olympic champion. It's a scene that's replayed itself thousands of times in the past 16 years - go to any swim family's house, particularly those who live nearby Phelps' Baltimore, and you'll see the same sort of photo.

Fast forward 10 years and Ledecky, who then was an age-group swimmer looking up to the fastest man in the world, is now 19, a five-time gold medal winner, two-time American Olympic teammate with Phelps and just as fast and (if not equally, then almost as) highly regarded. You might want her autograph too.

This is great.

Ledecky and Phelps appeared together on the Today show Monday morning and, in her first question, Ledecky was asked about what Phelps has meant to the team.

"I started watching him when I was six years old when I started getting into the sport," she said as Phelps, Matt Lauer and the rest of the crew began laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

Story like that's gotta be true.