8.16 Janet Evans: Getting Started

"When I started swimming again two years ago, it felt like I was starting from scratch. My mindset was that every time I swam, it was going to get easier—and it did. When you're working toward a fitness goal, you just need to start. It's not going to be pretty; your body is going to scream at you, but each time you'll get better." - Janet Evans

How hard is it for you to get back in shape or come back from a break?

Janet Evans is a former American competitive swimmer and one of the most decorated distance swimmers in history. She won four Olympic gold medals and one silver across the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Games, specializing in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle.

She is remembered for her grit, consistency, and determination—qualities that made her a role model for athletes worldwide.

Evans retired after the 1996 Olympics, and tried to make a comeback for the 2012 Olympics, but didn’t make it.

While preparing for her comeback, Evans said, "When I started swimming again two years ago, it felt like I was starting from scratch. My mindset was that every time I swam, it was going to get easier—and it did. When you're working toward a fitness goal, you just need to start. It's not going to be pretty; your body is going to scream at you, but each time you'll get better."

The process of coming back and getting back in shape is hard, even for the best athletes in the world, so don’t ever get discouraged.

Keep going.

Question of the Day: How do you keep going when you are coming back from a break?