“Prisoner in my own brain”- Regan Smith opens up about dealing with anxiety as she sheds light on overcoming her struggles

American Olympic swimmer Regan Smith- Source: Getty
American Olympic swimmer Regan Smith- Source: Getty

Regan Smith reflected on her past struggles and opened up about how she has now overcome those. The American swimmer wrapped up her 2024 season after competing at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.

Smith is currently in her off-season and recently appeared on the 'Everybody Pulls The Tarp' podcast hosted by Andrew Moses. Here, she spoke about dealing with anxiety and stress and also revealed how she is now in control of her own mind and has moved past the struggles.

“I’m just like a lot more in tune with my body and like how to hold space for myself when I am feeling stressed or anxious like dealing with that. I had like really high functioning anxiety," said Regan Smith. "But it just got in the way of everything and I think I reached a breaking point this year where I am just like, I am ultimately in control of my own thoughts and my reality and I don’t have to be a prisoner of my own brain and that was such an enlightening moment for me.”

The swimmer had a successful run at the Paris Olympics, winning five medals, including two gold medals and three silver medals. She stood atop the podium in the 4x100m medley relay and 4x100m mixed medley events. Along with this, she won silver medals in the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, and 200m butterfly.

Regan Smith opened up about her experience at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic appearance

Regan Smith at the Paris Olympics(Image Source: Getty)
Regan Smith at the Paris Olympics(Image Source: Getty)

In a recent interview with Swimming World magazine, Regan Smith opened up about her experience at the Tokyo Olympics and also revealed the changes she has adapted to in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The swimmer said that she was a complete disaster during the 2020 Games but mentioned that she was mentally strong during the Paris Games.

"Truly, I don’t think there was anything that was within my power that I could have done to have a different outcome. I executed my races so well. I put up times that I was really proud of, and I had a really great mental relationship with the sport during that week, whereas in Tokyo, I was a complete disaster the entire time," said Smith.

Speaking about her 2024 exploits, she added:

"So I just saw so many improvements within myself, mentally and physically, with my performances and everything. So I truly did walk away from Paris being like, ‘Wow, I did some really cool things.’”

Regan Smith won three medals during the Tokyo Olympics, including two silver medals in the 200m butterfly and 4x100m medley races and one bronze medal in the 100m backstroke.

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Edited by Neelabhra Roy
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