"I really beat myself up"- Regan Smith opens up being harsh on herself during preparations for the Paris Olympics

Regan Smith opened up about her approach towards her career, which inevitably placed overwhelming pressure on the swimmer and her mental health. One of the major reasons for this was her self-critical nature, rooted in perfectionism, which left little room for mistakes or rest.

The swimming champion acknowledged that missing a practice or having a day off would spark intense guilt and a sense of inadequacy in her mind. She felt compelled to deliver peak performance daily, fearing that any deviation signaled a lack of discipline or effort.

As the Paris Olympics approached the gold medalist acknowledged the toll of relentless pressure. Compounding the challenge was her coach Bob Bowman's transition to a new role, which forced her training group to navigate multiple locations. Speaking about the change, she said:

“I always took training so seriously, and if I missed one day of practice or if I had a bad practice, I was really hard on myself, and I really beat myself up. I would be like, ‘Well, I need all of my ducks to be in order, everything to be in order.’ I give everything 100% all the time, and if I don’t, I feel like I’m slacking and I’m lazy. I realized after a certain point that I was just living life on hard mode." (swimmingworldmagainze.com)

This challenging period led Regan Smith to re-evaluate her approach to training and mental health. Acknowledging the unsustainable demands of her intense routine, the swimmer chose to step back, prioritizing personal well-being over grueling workouts.

This mental shift became a crucial moment, allowing her to embrace a balanced perspective and alleviate the strain that once dominated her relationship with the sport.

Her decision to prioritize mental well-being not only revitalized her approach to the sport but also played a key role in her remarkable achievement at the 2024 Paris Games.

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Regan Smith reflects on her achievement at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Regan Smith at 2024 Paris Olympics: Swimming - Source: Getty

Regan Smith secured five medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, including two golds in the 4x100 medley relay - mixed and women's and three silver in the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, and 200m butterfly events. She also set a world record in the 4x100 medley relay.

Following her outstanding performance in Paris, she spoke with 12 New's journalist, Tram Mai in August 2024, and expressed pride in her accomplishments and her contribution to Team USA's medal tally. She acknowledged the dedication and effort required for her races and felt immense satisfaction with the results. Reflecting on her achievements, the interviewer asked:

"You have five medals here in Paris, eight total overall. How are you feeling?" (0:01 onwards)

"I feel great. I'm so proud of myself and the efforts that I put in the pool this week and it's always a wonderful feeling to be able to contribute to USA's medal tally. So I'm ecstatic," the world champion said.

Later in the conversation, Regan Smith explained how her experience in Paris differed from her first Olympics in Tokyo. While she cherishes her Tokyo memories, she noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly impacted those Games, creating an isolating environment with empty arenas and restricted interactions with family and fans.

In contrast, Paris provided the opportunity to celebrate her success alongside her loved ones and teammates. She also confirmed her commitment to competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.