You wouldn’t believe how many people tried to talk me into retiring after winning the Olympics. They all said the same: “You should go out on top.” But I felt like I had only just started the sport. I had bigger goals, bigger dreams, and I knew I was capable of doing so much more. After having foot surgery and just two months back in the water, my very first competition after winning the Olympics was Nationals… and I got 5th. From Olympic Champion to 5th at Nationals. I was mortified and embarrassed. But my people still loved me. My people were happy to see me on the pool deck. My people were 100% with me. And that was the moment I realized I was free to fail. Failing didn’t change who I was or what I was capable of. It just showed me what wasn’t working right or what I needed to change or do better or differently. That was a new beginning. And although I never won the Olympics again, I won two other World Titles, pushed the limits in my sport and did more than I ever thought ...