American swimmer Regan Smith showed great national pride after setting a world record in the 100-meter backstroke.
The Olympic silver medalist set two personal bests at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials in Indianapolis to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She won the 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke and the 200-meter butterfly events.
The 22-year-old is known for being outspoken about her feelings and may be one of the proudest athletes competing in the Summer Olympics.
“I’m a patriotic girl. I love America. I’m really an American girl at heart,” she said in a recent interview.
Looking forward to putting on the U.S. Team cap and uniform, the swimmer said he feels “incredibly” proud and that representing his country is special every time.
“I never get tired of it, really. It’s an incredibly proud thing to be able to put on my American flag hat and represent the United States every summer. And it’s always so special to be able to stand on the podium, put your hand over your heart and hear the national anthem playing throughout the aquatics center. I never get tired of it.”
“I wasn’t just swimming for myself, I was swimming for a whole country that supported me.”
Despite his young age, Smith has already achieved incredible success with the USA national team.
At the 2019 World Championships, she won gold medals in the 200m backstroke and 4x100m medley at just 17 years old.
At the 2020 Olympics, Smith won two silver medals and one bronze medal.
She is set to win two more gold medals at the 2022 World Championships, and one gold medal, three silver medals and one bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships.
“To me, I would say every time it happens it becomes more important and more valuable,” she said. Fox News“This summer will be no different. I am incredibly excited to put my cap on and go overseas and represent the greatest country in the history of the world. It’s amazing. Every time I compete for my country I feel so proud to be an American,” Smith continued.
The world champion recalled the first time he represented his country at the age of 15 and said the occasion brought him to tears.
“I had such a strong sense of pride and I was standing on the starting line and not just swimming for myself, but for a whole country that was supporting me and wanted me to succeed.”
The Lakeville, Minnesota native said she loves swimming for “something much bigger than myself,” adding that the desire to make her country proud actually takes some of the pressure off performing.
Swimming events at the 2024 Paris Olympics will begin on July 27th.
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