There are nonetheless some issues that want balancing within the protection of ladies’s sports activities and the way feminine athletes are perceived—the truth that it’s not all the time simply in regards to 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 quite a lot 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] typically it takes a bit extra to seize individuals’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 seems like there’s a motion. As one of many highest-profile feminine athletes of the previous decade, have you ever seen progress in the best way girls swimmers or athletes usually 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’ve that now for the long run. That was a giant, huge change and a very long time coming, and particular to be part of.
As an entire, girls’s sports activities—as you stated, 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. Individuals are having fun with watching girls’s sports activities, and I hope that this summer time they’ll get pleasure from watching Group USA girls crush it on the Olympics.
Sure, and also you gained the first-ever gold in that 1500 freestyle—not that your title wasn’t already within the historical past books, however that can all the time be yours! Talking of this summer time—you write within the e book that you just usually don’t reveal your targets or “need instances.” However even broadly talking, what would make the Paris Video games a hit for you?
Effectively, 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 all the time the aim if you happen to’re on Group USA.
I’ve particular time-oriented targets in thoughts that I’m not going to share. However I do know these targets will push me to compete with the perfect on this planet and put me able to be up there. I’m pleased with 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 crew.
And what comes after that? You share some within the e book about how lengthy you plan to proceed competing. How are you interested by that, and even what would possibly come after that, proper now?
I’m fairly centered on the current proper now, however I do know that I’m not finished 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 yr by yr. 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.
Considering again once more to London—if you happen to may return and discuss to 15-year-old Katie about all that what’s to come back, what would you say to her?
Effectively, you already know, I’m fairly pleased with how issues have turned out. I used to be capable of reset some targets after London fairly shortly. I didn’t wish to be a one-hit marvel; I needed to proceed representing Group 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 cherished swimming again then and I like it much more in the present day—it looks like yearly I like it a bit bit extra.
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