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 at all times simply concerning the accomplishments, however that you must 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 good issues they’re doing on the courtroom, on the sector, within the pool, wherever it’s—but [unlike for male athletes] generally it takes slightly extra to seize folks’s consideration.

Proper now—I don’t need to say that girls’s sports activities is having a second as a result of that makes it sound prefer it’s a quick 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 best way girls swimmers or athletes usually are perceived, revered, and supported?

I believe the most important 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 an enormous, massive change and a very long time coming, and particular to be part of.

As a complete, 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 Workforce USA girls crush it on the Olympics.

Sure, and also you gained the first-ever gold in that 1500 freestyle—not that your identify wasn’t already within the historical past books, however that may at all times be yours! Talking of this summer time—you write within the ebook that you just sometimes don’t reveal your targets or “need occasions.” However even broadly talking, what would make the Paris Video games successful for you?

Properly, first off, I’ve to qualify. Our Trials are in mid-June. In fact, I might like to qualify in a number of occasions for Paris and produce dwelling some medals. That’s at all times the purpose in case you’re on Workforce 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 easiest on the planet and put me able to be up there. I’m proud of how my coaching has progressed during the last 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 ebook about how lengthy you plan to proceed competing. How are you serious about that, and even what would possibly come after that, proper now?

I’m fairly targeted 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—in case you might return and discuss to 15-year-old Katie about all that what’s to come back, what would you say to her?

Properly, you realize, I’m fairly proud of how issues have turned out. I used to be in a position to reset some targets after London fairly shortly. I didn’t need to be a one-hit surprise; I needed 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 at the moment—it looks like yearly I find it irresistible slightly bit extra.

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