Coleman’s Carpool: Allison Schmitt Tells Tales from Schmeisel World Tour, Grad School, and Mesa

In Coleman’s Carpool we get the insider’s perspective on your favorite swimmers. SwimSwam Head of Production, Coleman Hodges, invites swimmers to take a ride with him and talk about anything…except swimming. Mostly.

In light of her recent return to competition, SwimSwam got in the car with Olympic champion and current Tempe, Arizona local, Allison Schmitt. Allison competed at the Mesa Pro Swim this past weekend, and did very well considering she’s only been seriously training since January and it was her first meet since competing at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. I had never met Allison before, but in the climate we were driving around in, I think an accurate metaphor would be a “ray of sunshine”. She was personable, honest, and as you can see there weren’t a lot of instances when she didn’t have me laughing.

We had a lot to catch up on! Allison talked us through the Schmeisel world tour, where her and fellow Olympic teammate Elizabeth Beisel traveled to Thailand, Australia, and various parts of the country in the US. She talked us through making her return to the pool, and how she rediscovered her love for swimming. And she explained her journey through grad school, and how she’s gained immense perspective through her studies in social work and psychology.

 

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Cate
5 years ago

Allison Schmitt lives in Paradise Valley, not in Tempe. Tempe is where ASU is located

Jones
5 years ago

One of the funniest and most positive Olympians out there

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Jones
5 years ago

her refreshing joy is absolutely something that i treasure too

MrsTarquinBiscuitbarrel
Reply to  Jones
5 years ago

True. However, given Schmitt’s heartfelt and frank admissions of how she’s grappled with depression over the years, I hope she’s REALLY all right. Many depressives tend to try to entertain other people in order to gloss over our own deeply held issues.

So I’m hoping for Schmitty, and pulling for her unreservedly.

toastedcoconut
5 years ago

Allison lives with Michael and Nicole?

Coach John
Reply to  toastedcoconut
5 years ago

been a while… since they moved their I believe.

Cate
Reply to  toastedcoconut
5 years ago

In an interview Phelps said as long as she was in school she could live with them and that she pays rent.

Cate
Reply to  Cate
5 years ago

I think he was on FB live when he made that statement

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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