{"id":589537,"date":"2024-06-22T12:09:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-22T19:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=589537"},"modified":"2024-06-22T12:09:40","modified_gmt":"2024-06-22T19:09:40","slug":"phoebe-bacon-on-terrifying-us-backstroke-power-rest-of-the-world-better-be-scared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/phoebe-bacon-on-terrifying-us-backstroke-power-rest-of-the-world-better-be-scared\/","title":{"rendered":"Phoebe Bacon on ‘Terrifying’ US Backstroke Power: ‘Rest of the World Better Be Scared’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phoebe Bacon<\/strong> admits swimming the backstroke in the U.S. is terrifying.<\/p>\n

The gauntlet of talent, speed and history is a lot to live up to and a lot to overcome every single race.<\/p>\n

Bacon has now managed to do that for the second time, making her second Olympics in the 200 backstroke.<\/p>\n

“Coming into it this year, I was terrified,” Phoebe Bacon said. “The 200 back and 100 back for that matter, in the U.S. is ungodly fast. Some of the competitors are all right there. I knew if I was able to stay mentally strong and physically strong I had a chance.”<\/p>\n

But now, Bacon<\/a> and Regan Smith<\/strong> are ready to put the fear to the world in the 200 backstroke.<\/p>\n

“Being able to swim with her will be awesome. I think the rest of the world better be scared of us. We don’t like to lose,” Bacon said after the race.<\/p>\n

Bacon used a strong surge in the final 20 meters to overtake Claire Curzan<\/strong> for the second Olympic spot in an event that had five Olympians.<\/p>\n

“A whirlwind of emotions. I am happy and so excited for Paris. I knew in semifinals, I knew what I was going to have to do in the final,” Bacon said. “I came under the jumbotron and I knew I had to go.<\/p>\n

“I got my hand to the wall, almost blacked out – just got there.”<\/p>\n

Bacon has overcome a lot of the downs in an up-and-down couple of years.<\/p>\n

“It is all the pressure. I didn’t see myself having much pressure at swim meets, but last year it started showing up in places I didn’t expect, whether it be in practice or a meet,” Bacon said. “I have been working with my coaches and other mental health providers and was able to come into this meet headstrong.<\/p>\n

“Just surround myself with things and people that I enjoy. Keep me smiling and I am going to swim well.”<\/p>\n

Well enough to get her hand on the wall and punch her ticket to a second Olympics.<\/p>\n