I went into the Olympic Trials figuring out that the highest six finishers within the 100 and 200 freestyles make the staff. All I had needed was to slide into that sixth place spot and make the staff. My first swim was the 200 freestyle and I let my nerves get the perfect of me and ended up including three seconds. I used to be in fact upset however that swim simply made me all of the extra hungry to do properly within the 100. I noticed the 100 as an opportunity to redeem myself as a result of I had invested means an excessive amount of time and power to let a small hiccup, like being nervous, stand in my means. The 100 freestyle at Trials was probably the most painful race I’ve ever swum, but it surely was additionally a race that I take the best satisfaction in. After touching the wall and seeing that I got here in fourth, I instantly started to bawl. I assume I used to be so emotional as a result of I stored envisioning seeing a “6” subsequent to my identify and the “4” caught me without warning. Not solely that however I used to be additionally fulfilling a dream of mine. I felt like I used to be nonetheless in a dream till I truly arrived within the aquatics area in London for the Video games.
I beloved how the US swim staff educated collectively for two weeks; one week in Tennessee and the opposite in Vichy, France. That gave us a number of time to bond and all of us turned actually shut. It was actually enjoyable to get to know everybody. The coaching was a number of enjoyable and we even had a number of down time to only chill and be with one another, however the entire tapering was making me anxious and I couldn’t wait to race. Truthfully, I’ve by no means needed to race so badly in my life. The nice factor was that I used to be going to be swimming the primary day of the Video games. I used to be truly utterly excited, not nervous. The Olympic Trials have been a lot extra nerve wracking than the precise Olympics as a result of on the Olympics, you’re already on the staff. There isn’t any stress to make the staff anymore, your job was simply to be sure to give it your all and out-swim the opposing nations.
Certainly one of my favourite issues was clearly being on the relay. I used to be so thrilled to guide it off and to lastly swim…on the Olympics! After the race was over all I needed to do was to swim it once more. Once I was advised that I’d be swimming on the evening relay, I used to be over the moon ecstatic. It was such an honor to characterize the nation, in each the prelims and finals relays, and to face on the rostrum was surreal. My different favourite factor was the Olympic Village; it’s wonderful to see the perfect athletes on the planet multi function place. It’s like a utopia of actually match individuals. Different issues that made life appear excellent have been the fixed massages that we might get throughout coaching and on the Olympics, 24/7 eating corridor, staff uniform, turning into nice pals with individuals on the staff and studying from one another, and a lot extra. The expertise was invaluable. I’m so fortunate to have skilled and be part of one thing so wonderful. Individuals advised me it could be an unforgettable expertise and I’m right here to say that I can vouch for that. It makes all of the numerous hours of swimming up and down the pool undoubtedly all definitely worth the whereas.
