Regan Smith on Mental Health: “I swim my fastest when I’m having fun”

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

After winning 3 individual events in Indianapolis, Regan Smith was asked about her mental health and where she was at heading into this meet. Smith admitted that during the pandemic, her mentality toward swimming took a turn for the worse, and she feels like she’s finally gotten back to a good place in her head.

The backstroke star felt that it didn’t help that mental health in sport was stigmatized at that time, noting that if you spoke out about having a hard time mentally, you would be viewed as weak or washed up.

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Christine Breedy
9 months ago

It had to be difficult to decide to eave Stanford- and then follow through! This is an importat life lesson!! It won’t be the last time you experience that dissatisfaction and depression with the current situation. Now you know how bravery I’ll take you from. Low to high! Congrats and GO GET THEM!!!

Ceccon - Kamminga - Milak - Popovici
9 months ago

She wasn’t having much fun in Stanford

swimdad

If you listen her stress started during Covid. Adding college stress on top didn’t help. Stop hating as Stanford remains the best program in the history of women’s swimming! Accept that and move on…

Ceccon - Kamminga - Milak - Popovici
Reply to  swimdad
9 months ago

If you listen her stress started during Covid

Regan Smith was the only swimmer in the world to be affected by Covid situation?

Got ya

SCCOACH

Swimmers in the Bay Area had it tougher with restrictions than other places. Not sure if that was a part of Regan’s problem, but it’s a fact that they were the last ones to open pool facilities up

Ceccon - Kamminga - Milak - Popovici
Reply to  SCCOACH
9 months ago

USA was among the last countries to start lockdown.

Also, Victoria, Australia was the longest region to have full lockdown.

China also had much more stringent lockdown than USA.

SuperSwimmer 2000

Every single person reacted to Covid in the exact same way?

David
9 months ago

These mental health stories are getting pretty frequent lately, but good to see some of our best athletes talking openly and feeling better.

Erik
9 months ago

This young lady is so humble and so wonderful as one of the best in our sport today! Dealing at her level with mediocre years, she goes pro, desides to go train with one of the GREATEST SWIM COACHES of ALL TIME BOB BOWMAN, was SUCH a SMART MOVE for her career! I truly hope when they get to Japan she hits her taper, breaks the WR in the 1BK, 2BK and the 2F American Record! 2:01.81 2FL World Record is a tough record to break! Who knows, maybe Regan will give it a go! God Bless you young lady!!!

Last edited 9 months ago by Erik
Paul Thomas
Reply to  Erik
9 months ago

I’m not convinced that 200 fly record is breakable by a human person. It has the feel of some of those doping records in athletics.

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Paul Thomas
9 months ago

Marita Koch 47.60

Paul Thomas
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
9 months ago

The one chance humanity has at breaking that record is that Sydney McLaughlin is just that good, but even there it’s a stretch.

e-Swimmer77
Reply to  Paul Thomas
9 months ago

Same for the men’s 800 free. Otherworldly.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Erik
9 months ago

Whoa. Pump the breaks on the CAPS.

Jackson
9 months ago

Duh.

Erik
Reply to  Jackson
9 months ago

DUH? That is your response to this SWIMSWAM article on Regan? Please imbelish on DUH!

Last edited 9 months ago by Erik
Alaverga
Reply to  Erik
9 months ago

Get a grip

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