I don't underestimate the power of mental preparation throughout all of my training. I'm in a much better state of mind about competition.

Id go to swim practice, put my face in the water, and I didnt have to talk to anybody. Swimming was like my escape, but it was also like this huge prison because I felt like I had to swim up to peoples standards.

Sometimes success is simply being willing to give it your all.

Like anyone, I stress and get hard on myself from time to time, but it's minute compared to the pressure I used to put on myself to perform and succeed. To my kids' credit, they've probably helped me the most here: I'm more worried about what they're doing than what I'm doing!

My performance has improved dramatically from yoga and meditation. No athlete ever dominated by sticking to one sport all the time.

To look good in the water you have to pick the right swimsuit. I own close to 500.

I concentrate on preparing to swim my race and let the other swimmers think about me, not me about them.