Breeja Larson<\/strong> stood on the top of the podium and couldn\u2019t stop smiling.<\/p>\n

When she started to talk about the journey that led her back to the top, her emotions began to show as she spoke.<\/p>\n

Realizing how far she has come since making the 2012 Olympics meant that much to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s a big one, honestly. I really, really struggled in 2016. It means a lot. It has been really scary coming back. I think a lot of pros continue swimming and are not sure what is going to happen. You start to wonder when you get a little older, \u2018Am I wasting my time? Should I start a career?\u2019 It is a little scary but you have to find that hunger within you. Working the mental part of the sport is a lot more important than the younger kids know. When we get older, we see that a little more clearly.\u201d<\/p>\n