{"id":477980,"date":"2021-06-17T11:43:38","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T18:43:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=477980"},"modified":"2021-06-18T17:03:44","modified_gmt":"2021-06-19T00:03:44","slug":"katie-mclaughlin-riding-full-wave-of-emotion-after-rocky-journey-finally-leads-to-olympic-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/katie-mclaughlin-riding-full-wave-of-emotion-after-rocky-journey-finally-leads-to-olympic-dreams\/","title":{"rendered":"Katie McLaughlin ‘Riding Full Wave of Emotion’ After Rocky Journey Finally Leads to Olympic Dreams"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Katie McLaughlin<\/strong> was announced as an Olympian and the medal was placed around her neck, she was fighting back tears.<\/p>\n

It has been an emotional five years for McLaughlin.<\/p>\n

The 2016 trials were devastating as she made several finals but missed out on an Olympic spot by less than a second.<\/p>\n

Now in 2021, McLaughlin finished fourth in the 200 freestyle to clinch a spot on the 800 free relay for the U.S. \u2014\u00a0and earn a spot in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am riding a full wave of emotion. I think when we rose up, I welled up a little bit. Seeing my family \u2014 my mom almost pulled me into the stands. Things like that and seeing my teammates and how excited they are for me and Teri (McKeever)<\/strong> and all of my supporters. That is the biggest thing that helps it set in. I almost start crying (again) when I think of all of those people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Especially her teammates who were so happy for her, despite not being in the best position themselves at that point in trials. McLaughlin was on the flip side of that four years ago, so knows how hard that can be.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I got out of the pool, Abbey (Weitzeil)<\/strong><\/a> and Kathleen (Baker)<\/strong> <\/a>were right there to hug me. They were both welled up with tears. It was really special,\u201d McLaughlin said. \u201cIt is cool to have friends like that that when things aren\u2019t necessarily going their way, they can still appreciate it for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A post shared by Teri McKeever (@coach_mckeever)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n