1 00:00:14,956 --> 00:00:31,796 Speaker 1: Pushkin hay Slight Changers. So I love the Olympics. Every 2 00:00:31,836 --> 00:00:35,316 Speaker 1: two years, I get totally obsessed, and then I experience 3 00:00:35,516 --> 00:00:38,156 Speaker 1: at least a month of withdrawal when the games are over. 4 00:00:39,076 --> 00:00:43,236 Speaker 1: As a cognitive scientist, I'm particularly fascinated by the mindset 5 00:00:43,276 --> 00:00:47,796 Speaker 1: of Olympians. I'm curious about their psychological journeys, from the 6 00:00:47,836 --> 00:00:50,516 Speaker 1: moment they pick up the sport to the final push 7 00:00:50,556 --> 00:00:53,076 Speaker 1: out of the race gate, to the aftermath of their 8 00:00:53,116 --> 00:00:56,396 Speaker 1: careers when they can no longer compete at the highest levels. 9 00:00:56,796 --> 00:00:59,396 Speaker 1: Not long ago, I had the honor of speaking with 10 00:00:59,516 --> 00:01:04,196 Speaker 1: five time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Missy Franklin, who competed 11 00:01:04,236 --> 00:01:07,836 Speaker 1: in both the twenty twelve and twenty sixteen Summer Olympics. 12 00:01:08,156 --> 00:01:12,596 Speaker 1: When Missy returns for her second Olympics, things felt markedly different. 13 00:01:13,396 --> 00:01:17,036 Speaker 1: Rather than having nothing to prove, she now had everything 14 00:01:17,076 --> 00:01:20,276 Speaker 1: to prove and the pool felt like a pressure cooker. 15 00:01:20,876 --> 00:01:24,916 Speaker 1: In our conversation, Missy spoke bravely about how her mental 16 00:01:24,956 --> 00:01:28,476 Speaker 1: health suffered behind the scenes and how she began to heal. 17 00:01:29,436 --> 00:01:31,916 Speaker 1: With the Olympics in full swing right now, it felt 18 00:01:31,956 --> 00:01:34,356 Speaker 1: like the perfect time to share this episode with you. 19 00:01:34,916 --> 00:01:35,876 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoy it. 20 00:01:47,156 --> 00:01:51,316 Speaker 2: I remember sitting behind the wheel just crying the entire 21 00:01:51,476 --> 00:01:54,956 Speaker 2: way to practice and just knowing that I was gonna go, 22 00:01:55,076 --> 00:01:56,996 Speaker 2: and that I was about to jump into a freezing 23 00:01:57,036 --> 00:01:59,876 Speaker 2: cold pool and swim for two hours and be disappointed 24 00:01:59,876 --> 00:02:00,516 Speaker 2: with how I did. 25 00:02:01,476 --> 00:02:05,396 Speaker 1: Swimmer Missy Franklin won four Olympic gold medals as a teenager, 26 00:02:06,156 --> 00:02:08,916 Speaker 1: but as she trained for her second Olympics, she found 27 00:02:08,916 --> 00:02:13,676 Speaker 1: her self unexpectedly struggling with so much to defend. The 28 00:02:13,716 --> 00:02:16,036 Speaker 1: pool suddenly felt like a pressure cooker. 29 00:02:16,556 --> 00:02:19,036 Speaker 2: This is not just a swim mate, this is who 30 00:02:19,076 --> 00:02:22,716 Speaker 2: I am. And if I don't do this, why am 31 00:02:22,716 --> 00:02:24,956 Speaker 2: I here? What is my worth? I have none? If 32 00:02:24,996 --> 00:02:26,356 Speaker 2: I can't do this and do it well. 33 00:02:30,156 --> 00:02:34,076 Speaker 1: On today's episode, when the loss of an identity threatens 34 00:02:34,076 --> 00:02:38,916 Speaker 1: your self worth, I'm maya Shunker and this is a 35 00:02:38,916 --> 00:02:41,756 Speaker 1: slight change of plans, a show about who we are 36 00:02:41,916 --> 00:02:52,076 Speaker 1: and who we become in the face of a big change. 37 00:02:56,596 --> 00:03:00,396 Speaker 1: At just seventeen years old, Missy Franklin was laser focused 38 00:03:00,436 --> 00:03:03,956 Speaker 1: on qualifying for the twenty twelve Olympics in London. This 39 00:03:04,076 --> 00:03:07,396 Speaker 1: dream was years in the making. From the time Missy 40 00:03:07,476 --> 00:03:09,916 Speaker 1: was a little kid, swimming had been at the center 41 00:03:09,996 --> 00:03:10,636 Speaker 1: of her life. 42 00:03:11,276 --> 00:03:14,036 Speaker 2: I got into the water because my mom never learned 43 00:03:14,036 --> 00:03:16,116 Speaker 2: how to swim, and she didn't want to pass that 44 00:03:16,156 --> 00:03:18,836 Speaker 2: fear down onto me, and she signed us up for 45 00:03:18,876 --> 00:03:21,396 Speaker 2: a mommy and me class at our local YMCA when 46 00:03:21,396 --> 00:03:24,476 Speaker 2: I was six months old, and I was that baby 47 00:03:24,516 --> 00:03:27,276 Speaker 2: that was getting dunked under and coming back up, just 48 00:03:27,596 --> 00:03:31,116 Speaker 2: laughing and loving every second of it. And so even 49 00:03:31,236 --> 00:03:35,836 Speaker 2: though to some it seems crazy to be training for 50 00:03:35,836 --> 00:03:39,556 Speaker 2: an Olympics at seventeen, to me, I was just doing 51 00:03:39,596 --> 00:03:42,636 Speaker 2: what I loved every single day, and there was hard work, 52 00:03:43,076 --> 00:03:46,436 Speaker 2: but I never saw anything I did as sacrifice because 53 00:03:46,436 --> 00:03:49,236 Speaker 2: it was my goal and it was my dream. I 54 00:03:49,316 --> 00:03:53,036 Speaker 2: wasn't concerned about other people's expectations. I wasn't concerned about 55 00:03:53,116 --> 00:03:55,996 Speaker 2: what other people wanted me to achieve. I had my 56 00:03:56,036 --> 00:03:58,676 Speaker 2: own dreams, my own goals, and I was focused on those. 57 00:03:58,796 --> 00:04:01,516 Speaker 2: So in twenty twelve, that's just what I was working 58 00:04:01,556 --> 00:04:02,636 Speaker 2: towards every single day. 59 00:04:03,716 --> 00:04:06,876 Speaker 1: You mentioned that you never thought of your commitment as 60 00:04:06,956 --> 00:04:09,996 Speaker 1: sacrifice because you loved it so much. Share a bit 61 00:04:09,996 --> 00:04:12,156 Speaker 1: more about what that commitment looked like. What was your 62 00:04:12,196 --> 00:04:14,636 Speaker 1: everyday life like in the lead up to twenty twelve? 63 00:04:15,156 --> 00:04:19,076 Speaker 2: We'd practice Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so that means swimming twice, 64 00:04:19,156 --> 00:04:21,316 Speaker 2: once in the morning, once in the afternoon, each for 65 00:04:21,396 --> 00:04:24,916 Speaker 2: about two hours. And then we'd have single swim sessions 66 00:04:24,996 --> 00:04:28,276 Speaker 2: on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. But I don't think people 67 00:04:29,156 --> 00:04:32,356 Speaker 2: can sometimes totally comprehend the fact that it is a 68 00:04:32,556 --> 00:04:36,116 Speaker 2: twenty four to seven job because everything needs to be 69 00:04:36,116 --> 00:04:39,476 Speaker 2: supported by everything you're doing outside of that space as well. 70 00:04:39,836 --> 00:04:42,836 Speaker 2: So it's your sleep, it's your nutrition, it's your recovery. 71 00:04:43,196 --> 00:04:45,836 Speaker 2: And then also I was seventeen years old, right, so 72 00:04:45,876 --> 00:04:46,836 Speaker 2: I was going to high school. 73 00:04:47,116 --> 00:04:48,636 Speaker 3: I was still in school every. 74 00:04:48,396 --> 00:04:52,076 Speaker 2: Single day, and then traveling and doing different promos for 75 00:04:52,116 --> 00:04:55,476 Speaker 2: the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and NBC and 76 00:04:55,956 --> 00:04:59,316 Speaker 2: traveling for different meats preparing leading up to that summer. 77 00:04:59,556 --> 00:05:02,516 Speaker 3: But it sounds like a lot. It was also all 78 00:05:02,516 --> 00:05:05,676 Speaker 3: that I knew, So to me, that was just life. 79 00:05:06,116 --> 00:05:10,236 Speaker 1: Yeah, tell me a bit more about where your head 80 00:05:10,316 --> 00:05:12,836 Speaker 1: was at as you were you were prepping for London, 81 00:05:12,916 --> 00:05:16,036 Speaker 1: and it's wow, like maybe these big dreams of mine 82 00:05:16,196 --> 00:05:17,156 Speaker 1: can actually come true. 83 00:05:17,596 --> 00:05:21,516 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I think heading into London, my goal truly 84 00:05:21,796 --> 00:05:24,316 Speaker 2: was to make the team. Like that was really all 85 00:05:24,356 --> 00:05:26,556 Speaker 2: that I had set on myself. And if you talk 86 00:05:26,676 --> 00:05:30,636 Speaker 2: to any swimmer, they will tell you that Olympic trials 87 00:05:30,876 --> 00:05:34,636 Speaker 2: is infinitely more intense and more pressure filled than the 88 00:05:34,676 --> 00:05:39,516 Speaker 2: actual Olympics themselves, because once you made the team, you 89 00:05:39,596 --> 00:05:42,196 Speaker 2: made it right, You're an Olympian, Like you get to 90 00:05:42,236 --> 00:05:44,676 Speaker 2: be an Olympian for the rest of your life. But 91 00:05:45,156 --> 00:05:49,756 Speaker 2: our races come down to hundreds of a second, and 92 00:05:49,836 --> 00:05:53,116 Speaker 2: so there's no room for mistake, there's no room for air. 93 00:05:53,596 --> 00:05:56,076 Speaker 2: You might get sick, you might get injured, like if 94 00:05:56,156 --> 00:05:58,676 Speaker 2: you have a bad sleep the night before, Like there's 95 00:05:58,756 --> 00:06:02,716 Speaker 2: so many variables that could impact these singular eight days 96 00:06:02,756 --> 00:06:05,316 Speaker 2: that you have to make an Olympic team. 97 00:06:05,796 --> 00:06:09,396 Speaker 1: M hm. You had mentioned to me that you you 98 00:06:09,396 --> 00:06:12,356 Speaker 1: didn't feel the pressure, the weight of other people's expectations 99 00:06:12,396 --> 00:06:15,396 Speaker 1: at this stage, and so was that partly why you 100 00:06:15,436 --> 00:06:19,996 Speaker 1: were able to be cool and collected during those trials. 101 00:06:20,236 --> 00:06:22,156 Speaker 3: I think a lot of it was just the. 102 00:06:23,716 --> 00:06:26,836 Speaker 2: Fact that I was seventeen and I was naive, and 103 00:06:26,876 --> 00:06:30,636 Speaker 2: that just absolutely played to my advantage of again, I 104 00:06:30,796 --> 00:06:32,436 Speaker 2: was just out there doing what I loved. 105 00:06:33,396 --> 00:06:37,396 Speaker 1: So, I mean, Missy, your performance in those games was 106 00:06:37,476 --> 00:06:41,476 Speaker 1: just absolutely unreal. Do you mind sharing your accomplishments. 107 00:06:41,956 --> 00:06:46,116 Speaker 2: So after Olympic Trials, I had qualified for my first 108 00:06:46,196 --> 00:06:51,156 Speaker 2: Olympic Games and seven events, and then actually arriving in London, 109 00:06:51,436 --> 00:06:53,716 Speaker 2: being in the village and getting to walk onto the 110 00:06:53,756 --> 00:06:56,476 Speaker 2: Olympic pool deck for the first time, all of it 111 00:06:56,516 --> 00:06:59,156 Speaker 2: was just so surreal. I ended up walking away from 112 00:06:59,196 --> 00:07:02,916 Speaker 2: those games with four gold medals, one bronze, and two 113 00:07:02,996 --> 00:07:03,796 Speaker 2: world records. 114 00:07:05,396 --> 00:07:11,076 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, sorry, so astonishing to hear those words, 115 00:07:11,476 --> 00:07:13,476 Speaker 1: like I know that, I know that, but just to 116 00:07:13,556 --> 00:07:15,836 Speaker 1: like hear that is insane. It's like, oh, yeah, I 117 00:07:15,836 --> 00:07:18,796 Speaker 1: forgot about the bronze ones as well, and like the 118 00:07:18,836 --> 00:07:22,036 Speaker 1: world records, And is there any specific memory you have 119 00:07:22,476 --> 00:07:25,636 Speaker 1: from those games and your celebrations. 120 00:07:25,156 --> 00:07:27,756 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh my gosh, And it has nothing to do 121 00:07:27,836 --> 00:07:30,636 Speaker 2: with a single one of those medals. The night that 122 00:07:30,676 --> 00:07:33,276 Speaker 2: I had won my first gold medal, I was still 123 00:07:33,316 --> 00:07:36,796 Speaker 2: writing such a high from that whole evening and just 124 00:07:37,076 --> 00:07:39,156 Speaker 2: everything that came with it. And we were at the 125 00:07:39,196 --> 00:07:42,116 Speaker 2: warm up pool in the village and I checked my 126 00:07:42,196 --> 00:07:49,156 Speaker 2: phone and I had a tweet from Justin Bieber and I. 127 00:07:48,156 --> 00:07:49,876 Speaker 3: Lost my mind. 128 00:07:50,156 --> 00:07:53,956 Speaker 2: Like if you can just imagine like seventeen year old 129 00:07:53,996 --> 00:07:58,396 Speaker 2: Missy like running circles around the pool in the middle 130 00:07:58,436 --> 00:08:01,396 Speaker 2: of the Olympic village, just like screaming like a little 131 00:08:01,476 --> 00:08:03,756 Speaker 2: girl that she'd gotten a tweet from Justin Bieber. Like 132 00:08:04,116 --> 00:08:07,956 Speaker 2: it just was like the perfect example of again. Yes, 133 00:08:08,036 --> 00:08:10,156 Speaker 2: I was so happy to be there. I couldn't believe 134 00:08:10,196 --> 00:08:12,556 Speaker 2: I was accomplishing those things. But I was also just 135 00:08:12,596 --> 00:08:13,956 Speaker 2: a seventeen year old girl. 136 00:08:14,356 --> 00:08:17,236 Speaker 1: Wow. So I want to talk about the aftermath of 137 00:08:17,316 --> 00:08:20,436 Speaker 1: your success, because sometimes we don't pay enough attention to 138 00:08:20,516 --> 00:08:24,756 Speaker 1: what follows these massive, epic, life changing wins. You know, 139 00:08:24,796 --> 00:08:28,196 Speaker 1: you come back to the US and your four time 140 00:08:28,356 --> 00:08:32,916 Speaker 1: gold medalist, Missy Franklin, you immediately go back to training 141 00:08:32,996 --> 00:08:37,636 Speaker 1: and preparing for now the twenty sixteen Olympic Games. And 142 00:08:38,156 --> 00:08:40,876 Speaker 1: as you started to train for those, you began to 143 00:08:40,956 --> 00:08:44,716 Speaker 1: face some new challenges. Do you mind telling me a 144 00:08:44,756 --> 00:08:45,436 Speaker 1: bit about those? 145 00:08:45,836 --> 00:08:47,436 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's funnily enough. 146 00:08:47,476 --> 00:08:50,076 Speaker 2: What a lot of people don't understand is that as 147 00:08:50,076 --> 00:08:52,356 Speaker 2: soon as an Olympic Games is over, we might take 148 00:08:52,396 --> 00:08:54,996 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks off, but the next summer for 149 00:08:55,076 --> 00:08:58,236 Speaker 2: US as World Championships, and so we get right back 150 00:08:58,276 --> 00:09:00,996 Speaker 2: into training because we have a really serious meet again 151 00:09:01,196 --> 00:09:05,236 Speaker 2: next summer. And so I remember particularly coming back from 152 00:09:05,276 --> 00:09:09,996 Speaker 2: London and thinking that I wanted to prove that I 153 00:09:10,076 --> 00:09:12,676 Speaker 2: wasn't just a one hit wonder, that I wanted to 154 00:09:12,716 --> 00:09:16,636 Speaker 2: go to Worlds in twenty thirteen and have an unbelievable 155 00:09:16,636 --> 00:09:19,436 Speaker 2: performance almost to back London up in a way, to 156 00:09:19,516 --> 00:09:23,076 Speaker 2: kind of prove that I can do this again. And 157 00:09:23,116 --> 00:09:26,436 Speaker 2: so I worked so hard that year, which was my 158 00:09:26,476 --> 00:09:29,316 Speaker 2: senior year of high school, ended up going to Worlds. 159 00:09:29,356 --> 00:09:32,756 Speaker 2: I won six gold medals at World Championships and it 160 00:09:32,836 --> 00:09:35,876 Speaker 2: was just like again a dream experience. 161 00:09:36,076 --> 00:09:37,556 Speaker 3: And then I went to college. 162 00:09:37,796 --> 00:09:41,036 Speaker 2: So I swam for two years at the University of California, Berkeley, 163 00:09:41,516 --> 00:09:44,676 Speaker 2: and then I turned professional in twenty fifteen, leading up 164 00:09:44,756 --> 00:09:48,836 Speaker 2: to the twenty sixteen Olympic Games in Rio, and I 165 00:09:48,876 --> 00:09:52,796 Speaker 2: would say that that was when things really changed for me. 166 00:09:53,396 --> 00:09:55,636 Speaker 2: I was at that point twenty years old, so I 167 00:09:55,716 --> 00:09:59,356 Speaker 2: was still very young, but I was no longer naive. 168 00:09:59,516 --> 00:10:02,676 Speaker 2: I was no longer a rookie. It's so hard getting 169 00:10:02,676 --> 00:10:06,916 Speaker 2: to the top, but it's even harder staying there. And 170 00:10:07,196 --> 00:10:10,436 Speaker 2: now I did have those expectations and that pressure, and 171 00:10:10,516 --> 00:10:13,996 Speaker 2: then you add new sponsors on top of that, and 172 00:10:14,036 --> 00:10:17,796 Speaker 2: swimming now becoming my job as opposed to just something 173 00:10:17,836 --> 00:10:21,276 Speaker 2: that I love and enjoy, and I think that for 174 00:10:21,316 --> 00:10:27,036 Speaker 2: me is what completely changed my mindset and I lost 175 00:10:27,236 --> 00:10:31,436 Speaker 2: all sense of balance during that time. I think I 176 00:10:31,476 --> 00:10:34,156 Speaker 2: got in the mindset for Rio that in order for 177 00:10:34,196 --> 00:10:36,956 Speaker 2: me to be the best I'd ever been, I needed 178 00:10:36,996 --> 00:10:41,276 Speaker 2: to just commit and devote myself fully to my sport. 179 00:10:41,596 --> 00:10:43,676 Speaker 3: I think for some athletes. 180 00:10:43,756 --> 00:10:47,876 Speaker 2: It works to completely devote themselves to their sport and 181 00:10:47,996 --> 00:10:50,356 Speaker 2: to not have balance in their life just to be 182 00:10:50,516 --> 00:10:53,196 Speaker 2: They live and they breathe their sport, and that is 183 00:10:53,236 --> 00:10:56,876 Speaker 2: what works for them. I learned in that period that 184 00:10:56,876 --> 00:11:00,596 Speaker 2: that is not something that worked for me. When swimming 185 00:11:00,636 --> 00:11:04,436 Speaker 2: became my whole world, it also became my whole identity, 186 00:11:04,956 --> 00:11:09,676 Speaker 2: and so bad practices, bad races, I began equation with 187 00:11:10,076 --> 00:11:14,276 Speaker 2: bad sense of self and self worth and self esteem, 188 00:11:14,596 --> 00:11:16,676 Speaker 2: and so it was such a hard time for me. 189 00:11:16,756 --> 00:11:19,116 Speaker 3: I was very, very lonely, and. 190 00:11:19,796 --> 00:11:22,476 Speaker 2: I started to feel the world's pressure on me as well, 191 00:11:22,556 --> 00:11:25,076 Speaker 2: that not only was I expected to make the team, 192 00:11:25,276 --> 00:11:27,596 Speaker 2: but I was expected to go back to Rio and 193 00:11:27,636 --> 00:11:30,396 Speaker 2: have an even better performance there than I did in London. 194 00:11:31,956 --> 00:11:34,716 Speaker 1: What was it now like day to day as your training? 195 00:11:35,036 --> 00:11:37,316 Speaker 2: It was so hard for me Maya because there were 196 00:11:37,436 --> 00:11:41,076 Speaker 2: days that I was so confused because I had never 197 00:11:41,156 --> 00:11:42,156 Speaker 2: felt like this before. 198 00:11:42,236 --> 00:11:42,836 Speaker 3: So there were. 199 00:11:42,716 --> 00:11:45,636 Speaker 2: Mornings where my alarm would go off at four forty five. 200 00:11:45,956 --> 00:11:48,116 Speaker 2: I'd be getting up on my way to practice, but 201 00:11:48,196 --> 00:11:52,356 Speaker 2: I remember sitting behind the wheel just crying the entire 202 00:11:52,476 --> 00:11:55,596 Speaker 2: way to practice and just knowing that I was going 203 00:11:55,676 --> 00:11:57,676 Speaker 2: to go, and that I was about to jump into 204 00:11:57,676 --> 00:12:00,236 Speaker 2: a freezing cold pool and swim for two hours and 205 00:12:00,276 --> 00:12:02,756 Speaker 2: be disappointed with how I did, but I was going 206 00:12:02,796 --> 00:12:04,636 Speaker 2: to do it anyway because I felt like I had 207 00:12:04,636 --> 00:12:06,236 Speaker 2: no choice. 208 00:12:06,436 --> 00:12:09,476 Speaker 1: I've read that when people had asked young this, like 209 00:12:09,516 --> 00:12:12,036 Speaker 1: seventeen year old missy, what advice do you have for 210 00:12:12,156 --> 00:12:14,396 Speaker 1: people who don't want to go to practice or a 211 00:12:14,516 --> 00:12:19,396 Speaker 1: struggling with their motivation, you would cheepishly feel like, I've 212 00:12:19,396 --> 00:12:21,756 Speaker 1: never really had that problem. Yeah, but I just love 213 00:12:21,876 --> 00:12:24,836 Speaker 1: going to the pool, and I actually don't face those 214 00:12:24,836 --> 00:12:27,156 Speaker 1: motivational challenges because this is the thing that I'm so 215 00:12:27,276 --> 00:12:27,996 Speaker 1: passionate about. 216 00:12:28,876 --> 00:12:32,276 Speaker 2: It was so funny to me that I was put 217 00:12:32,316 --> 00:12:35,596 Speaker 2: in those situations, and I would always feel so horrible 218 00:12:36,076 --> 00:12:38,196 Speaker 2: when I would have young athletes come up and ask 219 00:12:38,276 --> 00:12:40,876 Speaker 2: what to do in periods of plateau or when they 220 00:12:40,876 --> 00:12:44,156 Speaker 2: weren't feeling motivated, and I would have nothing to say. 221 00:12:44,396 --> 00:12:47,116 Speaker 2: I had truly just always been so happy and enjoyed 222 00:12:47,116 --> 00:12:50,556 Speaker 2: the sports so much, And the amount of other swimmers 223 00:12:50,636 --> 00:12:52,956 Speaker 2: that would come up to me after they had gotten 224 00:12:53,036 --> 00:12:55,636 Speaker 2: to know me that told me we thought it was 225 00:12:55,676 --> 00:12:58,116 Speaker 2: an act, like we thought that it was all for 226 00:12:58,196 --> 00:13:00,956 Speaker 2: the media, that it was all like that you just 227 00:13:01,036 --> 00:13:03,836 Speaker 2: love like we didn't believe that someone could actually love 228 00:13:03,876 --> 00:13:06,276 Speaker 2: this sport that much. And now that we know you, 229 00:13:06,916 --> 00:13:10,756 Speaker 2: we see that it's real and authentic and you actually 230 00:13:10,836 --> 00:13:13,556 Speaker 2: love swimming as much as you say you do about that, 231 00:13:13,996 --> 00:13:17,636 Speaker 2: and that completely disappeared. Leading up to Rio, I think 232 00:13:17,676 --> 00:13:21,916 Speaker 2: I became so focused on the expectation and I put 233 00:13:22,156 --> 00:13:26,716 Speaker 2: so much pressure on myself that swimming very very quickly 234 00:13:27,316 --> 00:13:29,116 Speaker 2: became not fun for me. 235 00:13:29,836 --> 00:13:32,756 Speaker 1: What was what was happening to your mental health around 236 00:13:32,756 --> 00:13:33,196 Speaker 1: this time? 237 00:13:33,756 --> 00:13:37,116 Speaker 2: So I don't think I really realized what was happening 238 00:13:37,916 --> 00:13:41,276 Speaker 2: because I had never experienced anything like this, and so 239 00:13:42,116 --> 00:13:44,996 Speaker 2: it was months and months and months before I think 240 00:13:44,996 --> 00:13:48,596 Speaker 2: it finally hit me that this is something bigger, like 241 00:13:48,756 --> 00:13:52,036 Speaker 2: something much deeper is going on here that I don't 242 00:13:52,076 --> 00:13:54,396 Speaker 2: know how to name. I don't know how to diagnose. 243 00:13:54,516 --> 00:13:58,636 Speaker 2: All I know is that I am deeply, deeply unhappy 244 00:13:58,916 --> 00:14:02,516 Speaker 2: and feel very alone and very sad. And so it 245 00:14:02,596 --> 00:14:07,516 Speaker 2: wasn't until I think around March or April of twenty sixteen, 246 00:14:07,716 --> 00:14:12,876 Speaker 2: so that is, I mean months before, months before Olympic trials, 247 00:14:12,916 --> 00:14:16,596 Speaker 2: where I finally called a meeting with my swim coach 248 00:14:16,636 --> 00:14:19,156 Speaker 2: and my strength and conditioning coach and I just looked 249 00:14:19,156 --> 00:14:22,116 Speaker 2: at them and I said, something is wrong, like something 250 00:14:22,196 --> 00:14:25,556 Speaker 2: is very wrong. And I had been trying to push 251 00:14:25,636 --> 00:14:28,116 Speaker 2: through it. I had been trying to pretend that it 252 00:14:28,156 --> 00:14:31,276 Speaker 2: wasn't there. And that's why I'm not a fan of 253 00:14:31,316 --> 00:14:33,836 Speaker 2: the phrase fake it till you make it, because I 254 00:14:33,876 --> 00:14:36,716 Speaker 2: think that can lead to tendencies of repressing things as 255 00:14:36,716 --> 00:14:40,116 Speaker 2: opposed to truly addressing them. And I was trying to 256 00:14:40,116 --> 00:14:42,076 Speaker 2: fake it at practice. I was trying to fake it 257 00:14:42,076 --> 00:14:44,596 Speaker 2: at competitions that I was confident, that I was calm, 258 00:14:44,676 --> 00:14:48,676 Speaker 2: that everything was going to be okay, but my mind knew, 259 00:14:49,076 --> 00:14:50,996 Speaker 2: and if your mind knows, your body knows. 260 00:14:51,876 --> 00:14:52,676 Speaker 3: And I was just. 261 00:14:52,596 --> 00:14:56,916 Speaker 2: Fighting it constantly, and the exhaustion was unlike anything I 262 00:14:56,956 --> 00:14:59,236 Speaker 2: had ever felt before in my life, and of course 263 00:14:59,276 --> 00:15:02,436 Speaker 2: that was inhibiting my performance, and so I sat down 264 00:15:02,476 --> 00:15:05,276 Speaker 2: with them, and they immediately got me into a primary 265 00:15:05,276 --> 00:15:09,276 Speaker 2: care doctor to a sports psychologist, and I got immediate 266 00:15:09,436 --> 00:15:15,236 Speaker 2: diagnosed with depression, insomnia, anxiety, and an eating disorder as well, 267 00:15:15,356 --> 00:15:18,236 Speaker 2: which was something that I knew I had been battling 268 00:15:18,276 --> 00:15:21,876 Speaker 2: for several months, but to actually put a name to it, 269 00:15:21,956 --> 00:15:28,316 Speaker 2: I think was really really tough, and it was so overwhelming, Maya, 270 00:15:28,436 --> 00:15:30,996 Speaker 2: to get all of that at one time, and to 271 00:15:31,156 --> 00:15:35,636 Speaker 2: think that I literally had months when people were expecting 272 00:15:35,676 --> 00:15:38,756 Speaker 2: me to be the best I had ever been, and 273 00:15:38,796 --> 00:15:41,516 Speaker 2: I had never felt further from that. 274 00:15:42,796 --> 00:15:45,636 Speaker 1: I wonder, was there ever a script that was playing 275 00:15:45,716 --> 00:15:49,756 Speaker 1: in your mind or a certain kind of rumination pattern 276 00:15:49,796 --> 00:15:51,316 Speaker 1: that you felt yourself falling into. 277 00:15:52,236 --> 00:15:54,916 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think that rumination and that pattern 278 00:15:55,196 --> 00:15:58,516 Speaker 2: was just negative self talk. It kind of dawned on 279 00:15:58,636 --> 00:16:04,956 Speaker 2: me that I hadn't said something kind to myself in months, 280 00:16:05,276 --> 00:16:09,516 Speaker 2: that I hadn't said something encouraging to myself and those 281 00:16:09,556 --> 00:16:13,636 Speaker 2: that know me. I am the most positive, optimistic person 282 00:16:14,036 --> 00:16:18,196 Speaker 2: that you will ever meet, and that person was gone. 283 00:16:18,556 --> 00:16:23,596 Speaker 2: And it's so crazy to think that she fully disappeared 284 00:16:23,796 --> 00:16:26,516 Speaker 2: before I even realized she was fading. 285 00:16:26,796 --> 00:16:26,996 Speaker 1: You know. 286 00:16:27,036 --> 00:16:29,596 Speaker 2: It was just such a stark contrast, and I think 287 00:16:29,716 --> 00:16:33,476 Speaker 2: it's that double edged sword of the elite athlete mentality 288 00:16:34,036 --> 00:16:37,156 Speaker 2: of you just keep going and you just figure it out, 289 00:16:37,356 --> 00:16:40,316 Speaker 2: like we're just we have that mindset to keep pushing 290 00:16:40,356 --> 00:16:43,396 Speaker 2: and to keep moving forward. But when that comes to 291 00:16:43,476 --> 00:16:46,796 Speaker 2: mental health, I think that that can be so damaging 292 00:16:47,396 --> 00:16:50,956 Speaker 2: because if you're pushing through that and not addressing it, 293 00:16:50,956 --> 00:16:53,796 Speaker 2: it's only going to get harder to deal with as 294 00:16:53,836 --> 00:16:56,876 Speaker 2: time goes on, because in my case, the problems were 295 00:16:56,916 --> 00:16:58,036 Speaker 2: just getting more severe. 296 00:16:58,596 --> 00:17:00,676 Speaker 1: And what kinds of things would you say to yourself? 297 00:17:01,076 --> 00:17:04,316 Speaker 2: I think my berating of myself really came down to 298 00:17:04,996 --> 00:17:08,356 Speaker 2: not believing I had any worth outside of what I 299 00:17:08,356 --> 00:17:11,836 Speaker 2: could do in a pool. So if I wasn't capable 300 00:17:12,076 --> 00:17:16,436 Speaker 2: of breaking world records and winning gold medals, why was 301 00:17:16,476 --> 00:17:19,596 Speaker 2: I here? You know, what other purpose did I serve 302 00:17:19,996 --> 00:17:22,596 Speaker 2: other than to do what I was put on this 303 00:17:22,676 --> 00:17:25,436 Speaker 2: earth to do, which in my mind was to swim, 304 00:17:25,476 --> 00:17:27,436 Speaker 2: Like that was it. That's all I had ever known 305 00:17:27,516 --> 00:17:29,836 Speaker 2: since I was so young, and all I had ever 306 00:17:29,916 --> 00:17:32,236 Speaker 2: known was that success. So I think it really just 307 00:17:32,316 --> 00:17:36,396 Speaker 2: came down to not understanding or not knowing what my 308 00:17:36,516 --> 00:17:39,716 Speaker 2: worth was if it wasn't in the pool. 309 00:17:40,836 --> 00:17:44,236 Speaker 1: What do you think gave rise to the eating disorder 310 00:17:44,356 --> 00:17:46,276 Speaker 1: in particular? Tell me a bit more about that. 311 00:17:47,116 --> 00:17:50,796 Speaker 2: So I think, with my self worth being the lowest 312 00:17:50,796 --> 00:17:54,516 Speaker 2: it had ever been, and again, feeling so out of control, 313 00:17:54,836 --> 00:17:57,196 Speaker 2: I turned to the one thing I felt like I 314 00:17:57,276 --> 00:18:01,756 Speaker 2: could control, which was my nutrition and my body. And so, 315 00:18:01,876 --> 00:18:04,996 Speaker 2: of course it's a tough scenario as an adolescent female 316 00:18:05,076 --> 00:18:08,236 Speaker 2: to be in anyway, right, being in a swimsuit in 317 00:18:08,276 --> 00:18:12,156 Speaker 2: front of so many people and trying to deal with that. 318 00:18:12,316 --> 00:18:14,676 Speaker 2: And I think when I was younger and growing up, 319 00:18:14,796 --> 00:18:18,396 Speaker 2: I really had this respect for my body that I 320 00:18:18,516 --> 00:18:22,436 Speaker 2: couldn't do what I did in the water without my body, 321 00:18:22,476 --> 00:18:25,836 Speaker 2: without my broad shoulders, without being six' to, two without 322 00:18:25,876 --> 00:18:29,916 Speaker 2: having size twelve. Feet it allowed me to accomplish the 323 00:18:29,916 --> 00:18:33,316 Speaker 2: things THAT i. Accomplished but then WHEN i stopped accomplishing, 324 00:18:33,356 --> 00:18:36,556 Speaker 2: those it was, like, well then what is this body. 325 00:18:36,596 --> 00:18:39,596 Speaker 2: Worth it's not helping, me it's not aiding, Me so 326 00:18:39,836 --> 00:18:42,756 Speaker 2: it doesn't have to be like. This SO i got 327 00:18:42,916 --> 00:18:46,836 Speaker 2: so restrictive in my intake, calorically AND i think it 328 00:18:46,876 --> 00:18:49,996 Speaker 2: had a huge impact on my. Performance and HERE i 329 00:18:50,036 --> 00:18:55,196 Speaker 2: am training two to four hours a, day eating barely enough. 330 00:18:55,236 --> 00:18:58,396 Speaker 2: CALORIES i, MEAN i don't know HOW i was doing, 331 00:18:58,436 --> 00:19:01,916 Speaker 2: it and so all those diagnoses were just so hard 332 00:19:01,996 --> 00:19:06,716 Speaker 2: because we didn't have time to go to the foundation 333 00:19:06,876 --> 00:19:10,956 Speaker 2: and systemically fix the. Problem we were trying to put 334 00:19:10,996 --> 00:19:14,316 Speaker 2: a band aid over a gaping wound that needed. 335 00:19:14,676 --> 00:19:20,996 Speaker 1: Staples you're a few months away from needing to compete In, 336 00:19:21,116 --> 00:19:25,036 Speaker 1: rio and not just, compete defend your, titles defend your, 337 00:19:25,796 --> 00:19:29,236 Speaker 1: ranking your reputation in the world of. Swimming what did 338 00:19:29,276 --> 00:19:30,756 Speaker 1: that version of band aiding look? 339 00:19:30,916 --> 00:19:33,636 Speaker 2: Like? Yeah so, well the other piece of all of 340 00:19:33,636 --> 00:19:37,716 Speaker 2: this is THAT i actually did sustain a physical injury In. 341 00:19:37,796 --> 00:19:42,956 Speaker 2: April SO i injured my shoulder In, april and again 342 00:19:43,156 --> 00:19:45,236 Speaker 2: that was something that we didn't have time to. 343 00:19:45,316 --> 00:19:46,276 Speaker 3: Fix and so. 344 00:19:46,356 --> 00:19:50,396 Speaker 2: At that, Point i'm just, distraught Like i'm now emotionally 345 00:19:50,636 --> 00:19:53,596 Speaker 2: and physically so far away from WHERE i need to. 346 00:19:53,596 --> 00:19:59,116 Speaker 2: Be so my band aid solution was immediately getting in 347 00:19:59,156 --> 00:20:03,356 Speaker 2: with a sports, psychologist a, nutritionist and a physical, therapist 348 00:20:03,756 --> 00:20:07,276 Speaker 2: and those three were there to just do what they. 349 00:20:07,396 --> 00:20:10,876 Speaker 2: Could Before olympic, trials we, had you, know eight to 350 00:20:10,916 --> 00:20:13,156 Speaker 2: twelve weeks of time to work with to try and 351 00:20:13,156 --> 00:20:15,996 Speaker 2: get me in the best position. Possible AND i think 352 00:20:16,036 --> 00:20:18,796 Speaker 2: we all knew going into it THAT i was nowhere 353 00:20:18,836 --> 00:20:21,716 Speaker 2: near one hundred, percent BUT i was at the PERCENTAGE 354 00:20:21,716 --> 00:20:23,756 Speaker 2: i was, at and that was all THAT i was 355 00:20:23,796 --> 00:20:26,516 Speaker 2: going to have to. Give AND i remember going Into 356 00:20:26,636 --> 00:20:29,676 Speaker 2: olympic trials just being absolutely. 357 00:20:29,756 --> 00:20:33,836 Speaker 1: Terrified did you find yourself having to do some of 358 00:20:33,836 --> 00:20:36,956 Speaker 1: these hacky fake it till you make it type strategies 359 00:20:37,196 --> 00:20:39,356 Speaker 1: have to get by during that? Time? Yes and what 360 00:20:39,396 --> 00:20:39,956 Speaker 1: did that look? 361 00:20:40,036 --> 00:20:43,316 Speaker 2: Like it was just the big old miss you, smile 362 00:20:43,916 --> 00:20:45,796 Speaker 2: and it was the first time in my life that 363 00:20:45,836 --> 00:20:48,636 Speaker 2: it wasn't. Genuine BUT i was trying to put that 364 00:20:48,716 --> 00:20:51,556 Speaker 2: smile on for everyone. ELSE i was trying to be that, 365 00:20:51,676 --> 00:20:54,956 Speaker 2: happy bubbly seventeen year old that they all remembered and 366 00:20:54,996 --> 00:20:58,516 Speaker 2: were expecting me to, be even THOUGH i had probably 367 00:20:58,556 --> 00:21:02,756 Speaker 2: never felt further from her in my. Life AND i 368 00:21:02,876 --> 00:21:07,236 Speaker 2: just didn't want to let people. Down and SO i 369 00:21:07,276 --> 00:21:11,956 Speaker 2: remember going into trials out of joy or excitement and 370 00:21:12,036 --> 00:21:15,076 Speaker 2: love for the, sport but just being absolutely terrified THAT 371 00:21:15,316 --> 00:21:17,596 Speaker 2: i wasn't going to do what was expected of. 372 00:21:17,636 --> 00:21:19,996 Speaker 1: Me and how did the trials? 373 00:21:20,036 --> 00:21:24,316 Speaker 2: Go, yeah so definitely off to a rocky start for 374 00:21:24,436 --> 00:21:27,436 Speaker 2: trials For. RIO i failed to make the team in 375 00:21:27,476 --> 00:21:29,876 Speaker 2: the event THAT i was the Reigning olympic champion in 376 00:21:30,076 --> 00:21:34,356 Speaker 2: from twenty, twelve and not even. THAT i MEAN i got, 377 00:21:34,356 --> 00:21:36,796 Speaker 2: seventh so there's only eight people in a, heat SO 378 00:21:36,836 --> 00:21:37,876 Speaker 2: i almost got dead. 379 00:21:37,756 --> 00:21:38,276 Speaker 3: Last in my. 380 00:21:38,356 --> 00:21:41,076 Speaker 2: Heat AND i remember going back to my hotel room 381 00:21:41,116 --> 00:21:45,876 Speaker 2: that night and, sobbing like just ABSOLUTELY i felt, embarrassed 382 00:21:45,996 --> 00:21:48,956 Speaker 2: LIKE i felt. ASHAMED i was just holding so, much 383 00:21:49,716 --> 00:21:51,796 Speaker 2: AND i kind of just gave myself this talk in 384 00:21:51,836 --> 00:21:55,116 Speaker 2: the hotel room of you, know you can pack up 385 00:21:55,156 --> 00:21:57,316 Speaker 2: and leave right, now like you can get on a 386 00:21:57,356 --> 00:22:00,956 Speaker 2: flight and you can go, home but you will never forgive, 387 00:22:00,996 --> 00:22:04,196 Speaker 2: yourself like you can do, that or you can go 388 00:22:04,276 --> 00:22:06,596 Speaker 2: out and you can finish this swim meet and it 389 00:22:06,676 --> 00:22:10,236 Speaker 2: may continue to be. Embarrassing you may not make This olympic. 390 00:22:10,276 --> 00:22:13,636 Speaker 2: Team you may be more heartbroken and disappointed than you've ever, 391 00:22:13,716 --> 00:22:16,796 Speaker 2: been but it would be nothing compared to if you didn't. 392 00:22:16,836 --> 00:22:22,396 Speaker 1: Try we'll be back in a moment with a slight 393 00:22:22,476 --> 00:22:38,796 Speaker 1: change of. Plans despite a disappointing performance at the twenty 394 00:22:38,836 --> 00:22:43,076 Speaker 1: Sixteen Olympic, Trials missy still qualified to compete for THE. 395 00:22:43,236 --> 00:22:47,436 Speaker 1: Us she would swim in three events In. Rio the 396 00:22:47,516 --> 00:22:50,956 Speaker 1: night before her first, Event missy and her teammates celebrated 397 00:22:50,996 --> 00:22:54,316 Speaker 1: at the opening, ceremony but when she returned back to 398 00:22:54,356 --> 00:22:57,036 Speaker 1: her room in The olympic, village she was hit with 399 00:22:57,076 --> 00:22:58,476 Speaker 1: an overwhelming sense of. 400 00:22:58,556 --> 00:23:03,196 Speaker 2: DREAD i remember calling my parents the night before the meat, 401 00:23:03,316 --> 00:23:06,476 Speaker 2: started AND i was crying so HARD i could barely. 402 00:23:06,516 --> 00:23:10,796 Speaker 2: BREATHE i remember my, dad in, particular are just repeating 403 00:23:10,956 --> 00:23:13,796 Speaker 2: over and over. Again he was, like, honey it is 404 00:23:14,196 --> 00:23:18,316 Speaker 2: just a swim. Meet it is just a swim Meat AND, i, 405 00:23:18,356 --> 00:23:23,116 Speaker 2: LIKE i just couldn't like comprehend what he was. Saying 406 00:23:23,156 --> 00:23:24,916 Speaker 2: AND i knew what he was trying to, do but 407 00:23:25,036 --> 00:23:27,996 Speaker 2: in my, mind like it was so much more than. 408 00:23:27,996 --> 00:23:32,556 Speaker 1: That What i'm hearing from you is that your dad's telling, You, 409 00:23:32,876 --> 00:23:35,196 Speaker 1: missy this is just a swim, meet and you're, thinking, 410 00:23:36,036 --> 00:23:39,916 Speaker 1: no this is my opportunity to defend my existence on 411 00:23:39,996 --> 00:23:40,756 Speaker 1: the Planet. Earth. 412 00:23:40,916 --> 00:23:43,356 Speaker 2: Exactly, Yes i'm, like this is not just a swim. 413 00:23:43,356 --> 00:23:46,676 Speaker 2: Meet this is WHO i. Am and IF i don't do, 414 00:23:46,756 --> 00:23:48,956 Speaker 2: this why AM i? 415 00:23:48,996 --> 00:23:49,796 Speaker 3: Here what is my? 416 00:23:49,836 --> 00:23:51,916 Speaker 2: WORTH i have none IF i can't do this and 417 00:23:51,996 --> 00:23:55,316 Speaker 2: do it. Well and so the next eight days were so. 418 00:23:55,556 --> 00:23:58,716 Speaker 2: TOUGH i didn't make the top eight in any of 419 00:23:58,716 --> 00:24:02,796 Speaker 2: my individual. EVENTS i swam on the morning prelim's relay 420 00:24:02,916 --> 00:24:05,756 Speaker 2: of the eight hundred freestyle, relay and my time was 421 00:24:05,796 --> 00:24:08,116 Speaker 2: not fast enough to put me on the finals. Relay 422 00:24:08,636 --> 00:24:11,996 Speaker 2: but that swimming works is if you are a prelim 423 00:24:12,076 --> 00:24:14,796 Speaker 2: swimmer on a, relay even if you aren't in the 424 00:24:14,836 --> 00:24:18,756 Speaker 2: group of four that wins the medal in, finals you 425 00:24:18,876 --> 00:24:22,076 Speaker 2: still get that. Medal SO i still won a gold 426 00:24:22,156 --> 00:24:26,116 Speaker 2: medal because my amazing teammates were able to bring home 427 00:24:26,156 --> 00:24:28,756 Speaker 2: the golds in the eight hundred freestyle relay In. RIO 428 00:24:29,596 --> 00:24:32,436 Speaker 2: i watched them do it in a beam bag chair 429 00:24:32,716 --> 00:24:36,596 Speaker 2: ON tv from the, village and that was HOW i 430 00:24:36,636 --> 00:24:37,756 Speaker 2: won my fifth gold. 431 00:24:37,796 --> 00:24:41,436 Speaker 3: Medal that whole competition for, me truly was just. 432 00:24:41,716 --> 00:24:46,636 Speaker 1: Survival i've looked back at footage And i've read interviews 433 00:24:46,676 --> 00:24:50,676 Speaker 1: from that, time And, MISSIE i feel like you could 434 00:24:50,676 --> 00:24:55,316 Speaker 1: hold a masterclass in the art of graciousness and evasive 435 00:24:55,396 --> 00:25:00,796 Speaker 1: defeat and failure and. Lost it was so inspiring for 436 00:25:00,836 --> 00:25:05,236 Speaker 1: me to see how you engaged with your, teammates with the, 437 00:25:05,276 --> 00:25:08,396 Speaker 1: press with everyone that. WEEK i, mean like we all 438 00:25:08,436 --> 00:25:13,076 Speaker 1: aspires human beings to act like that when we. 439 00:25:13,196 --> 00:25:18,356 Speaker 2: Lose that means so much to, me, truly that is 440 00:25:18,756 --> 00:25:21,276 Speaker 2: the highest COMPLIMENT i CAN i could ever ask to, 441 00:25:21,356 --> 00:25:24,396 Speaker 2: receive and that was WHAT i decided to. Do there 442 00:25:25,116 --> 00:25:28,196 Speaker 2: IS i realized very quickly THAT i was not going 443 00:25:28,276 --> 00:25:30,516 Speaker 2: to be an inspiration LIKE i was In london by 444 00:25:30,516 --> 00:25:33,956 Speaker 2: winning gold medals and breaking world. RECORDS i had always 445 00:25:34,036 --> 00:25:36,796 Speaker 2: talked about the kind of PERSON i wanted to be in, 446 00:25:36,876 --> 00:25:40,196 Speaker 2: defeat and now was my chance to prove it and 447 00:25:40,276 --> 00:25:44,676 Speaker 2: to actually be that. Person and if there was ANYTHING 448 00:25:44,796 --> 00:25:47,676 Speaker 2: i could walk away being proud of from those eight, 449 00:25:47,796 --> 00:25:51,476 Speaker 2: DAYS i wanted it to be HOW i handled myself 450 00:25:51,596 --> 00:25:52,276 Speaker 2: outside of the. 451 00:25:52,316 --> 00:25:56,276 Speaker 1: Pool so you wrap up a very challenging week In 452 00:25:56,356 --> 00:26:00,356 Speaker 1: rio and you fly. Home what were the days and 453 00:26:00,436 --> 00:26:00,996 Speaker 1: weeks like? 454 00:26:01,116 --> 00:26:04,236 Speaker 3: AFTER i, mean it's hard to put into. 455 00:26:04,276 --> 00:26:07,836 Speaker 2: WORDS i was feeling so many different emotions and just 456 00:26:08,116 --> 00:26:13,116 Speaker 2: ultimately just sadness and. Disappointment we got home and we 457 00:26:13,236 --> 00:26:17,036 Speaker 2: landed back in THE us and back In, colorado and 458 00:26:17,076 --> 00:26:19,716 Speaker 2: we were driving home and as we pulled into my 459 00:26:19,756 --> 00:26:23,156 Speaker 2: neighborhood and pulled up to my, house all the kids 460 00:26:23,196 --> 00:26:27,036 Speaker 2: of the neighborhood were standing there with signs and they 461 00:26:27,076 --> 00:26:29,516 Speaker 2: had made cut out hearts and they had all written 462 00:26:29,556 --> 00:26:31,956 Speaker 2: ways THAT i had inspired them In, rio and they 463 00:26:31,956 --> 00:26:33,116 Speaker 2: had put them all over my. 464 00:26:33,276 --> 00:26:35,476 Speaker 3: Yard AND i remember. 465 00:26:35,356 --> 00:26:38,516 Speaker 2: Just like completely breaking down in that moment and realizing 466 00:26:39,236 --> 00:26:42,436 Speaker 2: who you are and what you do outside of the 467 00:26:42,476 --> 00:26:47,196 Speaker 2: competition space can actually have a significantly bigger impact than 468 00:26:47,236 --> 00:26:51,236 Speaker 2: what you do inside of. It AND i think that 469 00:26:51,396 --> 00:26:54,396 Speaker 2: was step one of the healing, process BECAUSE i don't 470 00:26:54,436 --> 00:26:57,716 Speaker 2: THINK i believed that at the time of, myself but 471 00:26:57,916 --> 00:27:00,836 Speaker 2: just to know that other people did and to be 472 00:27:00,916 --> 00:27:04,956 Speaker 2: surrounded by that much love and grace and compassion was just, 473 00:27:05,076 --> 00:27:09,596 Speaker 2: like it was so beautiful and So moving back to, 474 00:27:09,716 --> 00:27:15,876 Speaker 2: COLLEGE i immediately got bilateral shoulder surgery and then started 475 00:27:15,876 --> 00:27:19,116 Speaker 2: working with a, therapist immediately started meeting once a, week 476 00:27:19,236 --> 00:27:23,316 Speaker 2: super regular in. PERSON i wanted it to be true 477 00:27:23,356 --> 00:27:26,356 Speaker 2: therapy and not just sports psychology BECAUSE i knew that 478 00:27:26,516 --> 00:27:29,636 Speaker 2: my issues kind of stemmed deeper than just sports and 479 00:27:29,676 --> 00:27:32,476 Speaker 2: how it had rooted into every aspect of my. 480 00:27:32,596 --> 00:27:36,076 Speaker 1: Life and by the, way what an important realization. 481 00:27:36,236 --> 00:27:37,676 Speaker 3: Today thank you you. 482 00:27:37,676 --> 00:27:41,036 Speaker 1: Know, YEAH i think that reflects something like even, symbolically 483 00:27:41,036 --> 00:27:45,116 Speaker 1: which is so, important which is given again that your 484 00:27:45,156 --> 00:27:47,876 Speaker 1: identity had been so tether to being a. Swimmer what 485 00:27:48,116 --> 00:27:51,276 Speaker 1: that tells me is that you are interested in treating 486 00:27:51,476 --> 00:27:53,956 Speaker 1: not Just missy the athlete for the sake of improved, 487 00:27:53,956 --> 00:27:55,076 Speaker 1: performance But missy the. 488 00:27:55,116 --> 00:27:57,396 Speaker 3: Person that's a beautiful way of putting. 489 00:27:57,436 --> 00:27:58,956 Speaker 2: IT i don't Think i've ever looked at it that, 490 00:27:59,036 --> 00:28:02,436 Speaker 2: way BUT i did understand that it Was missy the 491 00:28:02,516 --> 00:28:06,636 Speaker 2: person that was the most. Broken and so it was a, 492 00:28:06,796 --> 00:28:12,396 Speaker 2: long long. PROCESS i emotion and, mentally over, time was 493 00:28:12,436 --> 00:28:15,876 Speaker 2: able to heal and learn and grow and get into 494 00:28:15,916 --> 00:28:19,236 Speaker 2: a place, where maybe for the first time in my, 495 00:28:19,316 --> 00:28:21,476 Speaker 2: LIFE i understood that WHAT i could do in a 496 00:28:21,516 --> 00:28:24,276 Speaker 2: pool has nothing to do with WHO i am as 497 00:28:24,316 --> 00:28:26,716 Speaker 2: a person and my self worth and my value and 498 00:28:26,716 --> 00:28:29,436 Speaker 2: WHAT i have to. Offer AND i began to see 499 00:28:29,476 --> 00:28:33,116 Speaker 2: myself as more than just the swimmer and everything that 500 00:28:33,156 --> 00:28:37,556 Speaker 2: came along with. That and it was so incredibly freeing 501 00:28:38,036 --> 00:28:39,836 Speaker 2: and powerful to experience. 502 00:28:39,916 --> 00:28:42,996 Speaker 3: That and THEN i dreamed. 503 00:28:42,636 --> 00:28:48,196 Speaker 2: Of this, amazing, epic incredible, comeback and unfortunately the physical 504 00:28:48,196 --> 00:28:51,276 Speaker 2: injuries just wouldn't let it it. Happen getting to that 505 00:28:51,356 --> 00:28:55,356 Speaker 2: place from the mental standpoint and then physically not being 506 00:28:55,356 --> 00:28:57,996 Speaker 2: able to continue to compete WHEN i felt LIKE i was, 507 00:28:58,116 --> 00:29:01,076 Speaker 2: ready LIKE i could and LIKE i wanted to was. 508 00:29:01,436 --> 00:29:02,116 Speaker 3: Devastating. 509 00:29:02,996 --> 00:29:06,676 Speaker 1: Yeah, YEAH i can feel the intoxication of an epic, 510 00:29:06,716 --> 00:29:11,316 Speaker 1: comeback and what a satisfying narrative that would, be how 511 00:29:11,316 --> 00:29:14,276 Speaker 1: did you handle the disappointment of because What i'm hearing 512 00:29:14,276 --> 00:29:16,596 Speaker 1: from you is that you put in all the mental 513 00:29:16,676 --> 00:29:19,796 Speaker 1: labor to get yourself back to a healthier, place that 514 00:29:20,116 --> 00:29:23,996 Speaker 1: your body wasn't cooperating, right your shoulder injury was not, 515 00:29:24,636 --> 00:29:27,916 Speaker 1: improving and so how did you handle that frustration. 516 00:29:28,596 --> 00:29:29,396 Speaker 3: As an elite? 517 00:29:29,436 --> 00:29:32,276 Speaker 2: Athlete AND i just think as a, PERSON i, mean 518 00:29:32,276 --> 00:29:34,796 Speaker 2: you don't even have to be an. Athlete when your 519 00:29:34,916 --> 00:29:41,076 Speaker 2: body is inhibiting you from doing. Something you feel, Trapped 520 00:29:41,396 --> 00:29:45,236 Speaker 2: you feel, angry you feel frustrated because in my, mind 521 00:29:45,316 --> 00:29:49,236 Speaker 2: there was nothing from a physical standpoint THAT i couldn't push. 522 00:29:49,276 --> 00:29:52,556 Speaker 2: Through AND i tried so hard AND i did everything. 523 00:29:52,636 --> 00:29:56,476 Speaker 2: Possible and it was a conversation THAT i had with 524 00:29:56,596 --> 00:30:00,276 Speaker 2: my now husband at the, time and he, said, HONEY 525 00:30:00,636 --> 00:30:02,676 Speaker 2: i want you to be able to throw our kids 526 00:30:02,716 --> 00:30:05,436 Speaker 2: up in the air one day without pain Like that's 527 00:30:05,516 --> 00:30:08,716 Speaker 2: what he was thinking, of and he knew those were 528 00:30:08,756 --> 00:30:13,036 Speaker 2: myorities as. WELL i truly just came to that realization 529 00:30:13,196 --> 00:30:17,156 Speaker 2: that even IF i went through everything that my surgeons were, 530 00:30:17,236 --> 00:30:20,556 Speaker 2: SUGGESTING i didn't THINK i was going to be at 531 00:30:20,556 --> 00:30:22,756 Speaker 2: the PLACE i needed to be to compete at my 532 00:30:22,836 --> 00:30:25,196 Speaker 2: best and represent my country in a way THAT i 533 00:30:25,276 --> 00:30:28,636 Speaker 2: was truly proud, of BECAUSE i knew that IF i 534 00:30:28,716 --> 00:30:31,036 Speaker 2: continued to go down this, road which was going to 535 00:30:31,076 --> 00:30:36,196 Speaker 2: be more, surgeries more, recoveries more intensity with An olympics 536 00:30:36,276 --> 00:30:39,476 Speaker 2: right around the, corner THAT i was going to start 537 00:30:39,476 --> 00:30:42,956 Speaker 2: to lose that mental and emotional state THAT i had 538 00:30:42,996 --> 00:30:44,116 Speaker 2: worked so hard to. 539 00:30:44,196 --> 00:30:48,156 Speaker 1: Gain, yeah and catch me up on life. TODAY i, 540 00:30:48,156 --> 00:30:51,836 Speaker 1: mean you have so many identities that you. Carry you're a, 541 00:30:51,876 --> 00:30:55,236 Speaker 1: wife you're a, mother you're a, podcaster you're an. Advocate 542 00:30:55,796 --> 00:30:57,796 Speaker 1: what is your relationship with swimming like? 543 00:30:57,876 --> 00:31:01,276 Speaker 2: Today SO i do have a beautiful relationship with swimming, 544 00:31:01,276 --> 00:31:04,756 Speaker 2: now Which i'm very thankful. FOR i still work heavily 545 00:31:04,796 --> 00:31:07,956 Speaker 2: with THE Usa Swimming, foundation which is the philanthropic side 546 00:31:07,956 --> 00:31:11,396 Speaker 2: OF Usa. Swimming so giving back to the sport is 547 00:31:11,436 --> 00:31:14,516 Speaker 2: incredibly important to me because it gave me so, much 548 00:31:14,676 --> 00:31:17,036 Speaker 2: and so being able to give back working with the 549 00:31:17,076 --> 00:31:21,516 Speaker 2: foundation providing free and low costs from lessons to communities 550 00:31:21,556 --> 00:31:23,996 Speaker 2: that need is just a huge piece of WHAT i 551 00:31:24,036 --> 00:31:27,116 Speaker 2: do to stay involved in the. SPORT i also recently 552 00:31:27,196 --> 00:31:30,676 Speaker 2: started a podcast with My olympic Teammate Katie hoff and 553 00:31:31,476 --> 00:31:35,196 Speaker 2: we are so thankful to be involved in the sport 554 00:31:35,276 --> 00:31:38,596 Speaker 2: in that way and to have these amazing conversations with 555 00:31:38,636 --> 00:31:43,356 Speaker 2: not just swimmers but athletes about the true vulnerable moments 556 00:31:43,396 --> 00:31:45,116 Speaker 2: of what it is that we do and what we've 557 00:31:45,196 --> 00:31:47,476 Speaker 2: learned from, it and how we can share that with 558 00:31:47,516 --> 00:31:50,516 Speaker 2: one another to help each other. Grow so that's been 559 00:31:50,556 --> 00:31:54,196 Speaker 2: a beautiful way to stay. Involved and my coach would 560 00:31:54,196 --> 00:31:57,076 Speaker 2: always say that swimming is the only sport that will 561 00:31:57,116 --> 00:31:58,996 Speaker 2: save your life and that you can do for the 562 00:31:59,036 --> 00:32:03,876 Speaker 2: rest of your. LIFE i just know it's just like 563 00:32:03,916 --> 00:32:06,796 Speaker 2: a very old. Friend even IF i go a while 564 00:32:06,836 --> 00:32:09,556 Speaker 2: without talking to, IT i know that the SECOND i 565 00:32:09,596 --> 00:32:11,356 Speaker 2: get back, in it's going to be like no time 566 00:32:11,396 --> 00:32:11,796 Speaker 2: at all has. 567 00:32:11,836 --> 00:32:40,956 Speaker 1: Passed, hey thanks so much for. Listening if you enjoyed this, 568 00:32:41,076 --> 00:32:43,956 Speaker 1: EPISODE i hope you'll consider sharing it with a, friend 569 00:32:44,556 --> 00:32:47,396 Speaker 1: maybe someone you know who also has a bit Of olympic. 570 00:32:47,436 --> 00:32:50,396 Speaker 1: Fever right now and check out my new, Book The 571 00:32:50,516 --> 00:32:53,636 Speaker 1: Other side Of, change which features stories of change from 572 00:32:53,636 --> 00:32:56,676 Speaker 1: people you've never heard on the. Podcast you can find 573 00:32:56,716 --> 00:32:59,996 Speaker 1: the link in the episode. Description we'll be back next 574 00:33:00,076 --> 00:33:02,836 Speaker 1: week with another episode OF A Slight change Of. Plans 575 00:33:03,196 --> 00:33:16,076 Speaker 1: i'll see you. THEN A Slight change Of plans is, created, 576 00:33:16,156 --> 00:33:19,716 Speaker 1: written and executive produced by Me Maya. Schunker The Slight 577 00:33:19,796 --> 00:33:24,436 Speaker 1: change family includes our Showrunner Alexandra, garratin our Editor Daphne, 578 00:33:24,556 --> 00:33:29,196 Speaker 1: chen our lead Producer Megan, lubin our associate Producer Sonia, 579 00:33:29,236 --> 00:33:33,676 Speaker 1: gerwit and our sound Engineer Erica. Hwang Louis scara wrote 580 00:33:33,716 --> 00:33:36,716 Speaker 1: our delightful theme, song And Ginger smith helped arrange the. 581 00:33:36,796 --> 00:33:40,316 Speaker 1: VOCALS A Slight change Of plans is a production Of Pushkin, 582 00:33:40,396 --> 00:33:44,076 Speaker 1: industries so big thanks to everyone, there and of course 583 00:33:44,556 --> 00:34:11,796 Speaker 1: a very special thanks To Jimmy lee 584 00:34:14,196 --> 00:34:14,236 Speaker 2: Do