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Olympic Swimmer Dana Vollmer – On Swimming and Being a Mom

By Lindsay Flagan August 27, 2016

Anyone else sad that the Rio Summer Olympic Games are over? 

Our family loved to watch the Olympics and cheering for Team USA but we found ourselves drawn to swimming the most.  There was one swimmer in particular that caught my eye heading into the games – because she was a mom!  This was Dana Vollmer’s first Olympics back after having her son, Arlen in March of 2015!  And she did AMAZING!  For those that don’t know - she won a gold, silver, and bronze!  Dana has partnered with Pampers and the P&G Thank you Mom campaign (above she is pictured with her own mom) and was kind enough to do an interview with me while she stopped by the P&G Home that they had set up for Team USA.

Below are some of the questions I asked Dana and her responses.

Did you do any other activities growing up besides swimming?

I played every sport under the sun. Gymnastics…you name it!

 

Any advice for young swimmers or parents of swimmers with their eyes on the Olympics someday?

Everyday find something to get better at. I love to set high goals, but daily goals are what keeps you motivated towards that bigger goal.

 

What medal or competition that you have won are you most proud of and why?  Or is it maybe a time when you didn't win?

Coming into this Olympics I didn’t think it could top how London felt, but with my new outlook on life and swimming, this Olympics meant so much to me. I feel so empowered by my own journey, my husband, my family and everyone supported me through this one. Getting the Bronze medal in the 100m fly and then to top it off with actually getting a Gold with my teammates is really amazing. 

 

How has training changed since being a mom? 

After giving birth I got back in the pool a few times a week, but was really just splashing around. It took a couple of months until I gained the confidence to get back with my team in the pool and I just took it day by day. 

 

 What's next for you after these Olympics? 

Short term is baby number two, and I’m definitely looking at continuing to train. Normally after an Olympics you’re excited to take a step back, but I have a schedule I love and want to continue doing because I have a healthy, perfect balance of swimming and baby –  though baby number two will be a whole new juggling acct. 

 

Tell us about your partnership with Pampers as well as the Thank You, Mom campaign.

I couldn’t ask for a better partner than Pampers. For me, they represent everything about my comeback. It isn’t solely about being an Olympic athlete, it’s all about families and who I am as a mom. It’s about doing both, and Pampers diapers allow me to do that by providing overnight protection that helps Arlen have a sound night sleep, so he – and I – can continue to achieve our dreams.

Also, now being a mom myself, the P&G Thank You, Mom campaign is more important than ever because they truly celebrate moms. Watching the Thank You, Mom campaign leading up to the Olympics has been so great because I know how amazing it feels to have that medal around your neck and to get to hug your mom. You just want to do it over, and over again and that’s what keeps you going. I also feel like P&G and the Thank You, Mom campaign embrace the struggles that athletes go through. It’s not just about the medal ceremonies – it’s about the day-to-day grind it takes to get there.

 

Anything else you would like to tell our fellow mom readers?

My other advice is to just let go. As an athlete I have a gut feeling that I can do everything on my own, but you have to let go. This is the longest I’ve ever been away from my son, but I let go and have an amazing support system at home taking care of him.