Debbie Meyer

“Swimming is a sport of dedication and repetition. You do the same thing over and over again.”

“Being an Olympian is a responsibility. You're a role model for young athletes.”

“I had a goal. I wanted to be the first woman to win three individual gold medals in one Olympics.”

“You have to be a little bit crazy to be a distance swimmer.”

“The water is my sanctuary. It’s where I feel most at peace.”

“I'm still trying to get over the fact that I won three gold medals. It's a lot to take in.”

“It's not about the medals, it's about the journey and the people you meet along the way.”

“I never thought of myself as a superstar. I was just a girl who loved to swim.”

“I always felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability, it was my mental ability.”

“I swam with a lot of passion and I think that’s what made the difference.”

“The pressure was enormous, but I learned to use it to my advantage.”

“My coach, Sherm Chavoor, was a genius. He knew how to push me to be the best.”