There are nonetheless some issues that want balancing within the protection of girls’s sports activities and the way feminine athletes are perceived—the truth that it’s not at all times simply concerning the accomplishments, however that you need to do one thing or be one thing extra than simply nice to get consideration or reward or notoriety.
It’s not that I’m after that, however I believe a number of girls in sports activities deserve consideration for the nice issues they’re doing on the court docket, on the sector, within the pool, wherever it’s—but [unlike for male athletes] generally it takes a bit extra to seize folks’s consideration.
Proper now—I don’t wish to say that girls’s sports activities is having a second as a result of that makes it sound prefer it’s a short blip, nevertheless it appears like there’s a motion. As one of many highest-profile feminine athletes of the previous decade, have you ever seen progress in the way in which girls swimmers or athletes typically are perceived, revered, and supported?
I believe the largest factor I noticed was the addition of the 1500-meter free within the Olympics in Tokyo. We now have that now for the long run. That was a giant, large change and a very long time coming, and particular to be part of.
As an entire, girls’s sports activities—as you mentioned, it’s not only a second. It’s one thing that began a few years in the past, and we’re all making an attempt to proceed the momentum. Persons are having fun with watching girls’s sports activities, and I hope that this summer time they’ll get pleasure from watching Workforce USA girls crush it on the Olympics.
Sure, and also you received the first-ever gold in that 1500 freestyle—not that your identify wasn’t already within the historical past books, however that can at all times be yours! Talking of this summer time—you write within the guide that you just sometimes don’t reveal your objectives or “need occasions.” However even broadly talking, what would make the Paris Video games successful for you?
Nicely, first off, I’ve to qualify. Our Trials are in mid-June. After all, I might like to qualify in a number of occasions for Paris and produce residence some medals. That’s at all times the purpose when you’re on Workforce USA.
I’ve particular time-oriented objectives in thoughts that I’m not going to share. However I do know these objectives will push me to compete with the perfect on this planet and put me ready to be up there. I’m proud of how my coaching has progressed over the past couple of years and I’m excited to see how the summer time unfolds and what we are able to do as a group.
And what comes after that? You share some within the guide about how lengthy you plan to proceed competing. How are you fascinated by that, and even what may come after that, proper now?
I’m fairly centered on the current proper now, however I do know that I’m not accomplished competing after the summer time. I might like to compete in Los Angeles in 2028. I do know that that’s a number of years away at this level, so I’ll take it 12 months by 12 months. However proper now, I believe 2028 is within the playing cards and one thing that I might like to take part in, whether or not it’s in a single occasion or a number of occasions. I believe extra coaching is in my future and extra competing—simply much more swimming.
Pondering again once more to London—when you may return and discuss to 15-year-old Katie about all that what’s to come back, what would you say to her?
Nicely, you understand, I’m fairly proud of how issues have turned out. I used to be capable of reset some objectives after London fairly rapidly. I didn’t wish to be a one-hit marvel; I wished to proceed representing Workforce USA.
So there’s nothing actually to warn her about. I believe I might simply return to London and remind 15-year-old Katie she belongs, she’s able to extra, and to maintain that smile on her face. I liked swimming again then and I find it irresistible much more right this moment—it looks as if yearly I find it irresistible a bit bit extra.
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