Gabi Albiero Reflects on Stellar Racing in Five Countries Amidst Battle With Hashimoto’s Disease
Gabi Albiero was stunned. After dealing with a grueling year of health issues, she somehow got close to her best times in her final NCAA Championships.
It wasn’t quite her best, but it was a performance that meant more to her than anything before.
“It was the hardest year I have ever had in swimming, and my life, really,” Gabi Albiero told Swimming World.
Early in the season, Albiero was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, an auto-immune disorder that attacks the thyroid.
“It can show up in different ways. For me, it was a lot of fatigue and just feeling off. I felt that way for a long time,” she said. “Mono can be a trigger for auto immune disorders. My mom and my oldest brother has some auto-immune issues. We always knew it could be something that I would to deal with and it came out through having mono. Getting the diagnosis was nice to have some answers but it will be a struggle for the rest of my life.”
In the immediate, she was dealing with trying to have a strong Olympic Trials, while feeling the affects, then her final NCAAs.
“I was trying to figure this out while I was trying to essentially go my fastest times ever,” she said. “The season was difficult dealing with that and trying to find the best combination of diet and life factors. That is the toughest part, there is no blueprint because everyone has a different situation. It affected me physically and mental health-wise. There was no reasonable explanation that I was able to perform that well at NCAAs. It is the proudest of myself I have been in my career. To let all of those external things not define my year.
“I didn’t go best times, but I didn’t think I would touch those times. But I knew the team needed me. We were capable of great things. We aren’t quitters in my family, but I definitely thought about being done swimming. But I wanted to continue and go out on my terms.”
Albiero had a storied career with international meets for Team USA, NCAA All-American finishes as well as competing as a family. Her brother Nicholas Albiero swam with her at Louisville and their father, Arthur Albiero, is the Louisville coach.
“Nick loved swimming, and I loved winning,” she said. “His passion trickled into my own, and that is a huge reason I love the sport.”
They got to share a big win together a month ago.
International gold medal and coda
After her final NCAAs, Albiero competed in the Mare Nostrum Series in Europe with a three-part meet in France, Monaco and Spain as well as Brazilian Championships.
“I got to represent the team my brother (Nicholas) swims for and go down there and swim with him,” Gabi Albiero said. “We were able to do a mixed-medley relay together year. I think that was one of the highlights of our careers. We won gold, and that relay wasn’t supposed to. It was so special to do a relay with my brother at his last meet, my almost last meet and win gold. It was really special.”
As for Mare Nostrum, it was the victory lap.
“It was so much fun. I am so glad that I got to do that. I jokingly said that I should go to Europe and kind of end my career there. My parents took it seriously and supported me. I am grateful to have the experience,” she said.
Albiero completed more All-American performances at NCAAs and was part of Louisville’s national runner-up 200 free relay.
But knowing that Mare Nostrum was next helped her not feel the effects of a final college meet the same way.
“I knew that I didn’t want NCAAs to be my last meet. I am a very emotional person and I didn’t think I would be able to be fully in the moment there,” she said. “It would have been another stressor at an already-stressful meet. I was able to cherish all of those lasts.”
Big-moment reflections
The sport has taken Gabi Albiero all over the world. She has competed in seven countries, at national meets in the U.S. and Brazil and been part of Team USA.
So what were the biggest moments to her?
“Three come to mind immediately,” she said. “The first was getting fourth place in 2023. That was a magical moment. We had made that our goal the entire year. It was about getting that trophy. It was just so special. This is what championship teams do.”
The next one was at the same meet.
“It was the first time our 200 free relay had gotten second at NCAAs. It is our favorite really. This is what we do at a sprint school. That relay was composed of my three best friends. We are all about to be bridesmaids together,” she said. “Doing that with your best friends is something else. Then we got second the next two years, too.”
The last moment to stick out was for Team USA in 2023 in Chile.
“Winning gold at Pan American Games. It was my first real international experience. I had gone to Duel in the Pool for Team USA in Australia, but it was more of a fun and chill environment. It was my first high-intensity international meet. Things weren’t going to plan. I wasn’t performing at my best. My coach helped me to move on and have a short-term memory and get ready for the next race. The 50 free comes along. I just remember walking to the ready room that my meet started over right there. I ripped it and gave it my all. I really just wanted to get first. I tied for first with Maggie Mac Neil. That was so special and one of the prouder moments I have had for myself because I could have rolled over because the meet wasn’t going my way.”
Unique career perspective
Albiero has a specific perspective on her storied career. Her dream of the Olympics didn’t happen, but she has the mindset to not let that, or the sport of swimming define her as a person.
She has a marketing internship lined up for the summer involving restaurants in Louisville.
“The pinnacle of our sport is NCAA champion or being an Olympian. While I never accomplished those things,” Gabi Albiero said. “But as I get older, it is so special that I was even in the position to dream like that. That is pretty fricken cool. So few people in our sport actually get that close and I think that is something all the high-level athletes can take for granted. As elite athletes, we strive for the very best. Now that I can look back on it with different glasses, how cool is it that I had those opportunities? Those can never be taken away from you.”
MY LITERAL ROLE MODEL FOR LIFE. Gabi has always been one of the best competitors and teammates, stepping up for her team when they need her, but she is most importantly the number one best supporter and cheerleader regardless of her own performances. Winning that relay with her in Brazil was definitely the highlight of my career. Gabi has always encouraged me and been thrilled for me when I was “accomplishing” things that she wanted as well. She’s a huge reason why my career was so successful. To know Gabi Albiero is to love her. She has always said swimming is not who I am, it’s just what I do. And I have no doubt she will be an incredible leader and team member wherever she goes next in life. Love you so much g! – Nick