If you want me to swim fast, you have to let me enjoy my life.

Life is all about balance: sprinting hard and fast, breathing deep and slow. Working out with my coaches, playing with my kids. Eating whole foods for fuel, enjoying a glass of wine with friends.

People wanted to be friends with me for not the right reasons. They'd introduce me to somebody else as the Olympian or the swimmer. I didn't want to stand out. I wanted to blend in.

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.

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

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

Obviously, the competitor in you, you want to be in the top three every time in the pool.