From Pool to Open Water: Ashley Twitchell’s Journey to Olympic Glory and Motherhood

Join Olympian Ashley Twichell as she shares the twists, trials, and triumphs that shaped her elite swimming career—from backyard pool fun to the Tokyo Olympics—and how she balances motherhood, training, and advocacy today.

• How a love of the water from childhood ignited Ashley’s swimming journey.
• The pivotal moments that led her from pool distance events to open‑water competition.
• Her experience qualifying for and racing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
• Balancing elite training with pregnancy, postpartum life, and family.
• Advice on building a long, balanced career and fostering a supportive swim culture.

Ashley Twichell: The Mindset That Matters More Than Medals

Summer Finke
00:00 - 00:34
Hello everybody and welcome back to another episode of Lane One Making Waves. This week on the podcast we have Olympian and six-time world championship medalist Ashley Twitchell. Now being an Olympian and a six-time world championship medalist are amazing accomplishments, but within this conversation we touch on so much more. We touch on the journey behind those accomplishments, what got Ashley into open water swimming and now her becoming a mom and her new journey within this sport.

Summer Finke
00:35 - 01:00
So stay tuned and I hope you enjoy. Thanks again, Ashley, for joining me today. I know you have a pretty hectic schedule with practice and parenting, so I'd like to go back to the very beginning of your swimming career. When did you first fall in love with swimming and what kept you coming back to the pool after all of these years?

Ashley Twichell
01:01 - 01:11
Yeah, well, thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here. Um, I started swimming at a really young age. I'm the youngest of four kids and we like lived at the pool, especially in the summer.

Ashley Twichell
01:11 - 01:35
My older siblings all swam competitively and I just kind of followed in their footsteps. I did other sports too. My parents were big on having us try a lot of different things. And so up until seventh grade, I did other sports and then that was kind of when Um, I felt like I kind of had to, to choose one sport, but I just remember like from a really young age, not even necessarily like the training or competing, but just

Ashley Twichell
01:35 - 01:53
like loving being in the water. And I think, um, Those are like my earliest memories, just like being at the pool, growing up in the summer, like we lived at the pool and like, just, you know, playing in the water. Like it wasn't. wasn't training, wasn't competing, you know, from ages like four, five, six, seven, just absolutely loving being in the water.

Ashley Twichell
01:53 - 01:57
And I think that's carried through, you know, throughout my entire career.

Summer Finke
01:57 - 02:18
Yeah, no, I see that a lot with a lot of high level swimmers, you know, it's really a family affair. So many Olympians have siblings who swim or who have other siblings who are, you know, really good at other sports. Were you and your siblings really competitive in the water? Or did you find that it was more just you guys cheering each other on?

Ashley Twichell
02:19 - 02:30
I think definitely cheering each other on. So I have two brothers and a sister. One brother and a sister went on to kind of specialize and focus on other sports. And then one of my brothers swam through college.

Ashley Twichell
02:30 - 02:39
He swam at Boston College. But it was always definitely just supporting each other. My closest sibling to me is four and a half years. And it's me and then two boys and a girl.

Ashley Twichell
02:39 - 02:59
So there wasn't much direct competition. And especially because I'm a bit younger than them, they've always been so supportive. And particularly after college, they've been so awesome at traveling to see me, whether it's Brokemore Nationals or pool meets. And so it's been so special to have them there.

Ashley Twichell
02:59 - 03:26
And I tell people all the time, that's one of my favorite parts of swimming and my career is getting to enjoy it and Like take it in with my family and friends but and whether it's like the good races and like the not so good races. Even like a year and a half ago I competed in Portugal and open water race and it was. my probably worst open water race of my career. And my brother was there, my mom, my husband.

Ashley Twichell
03:27 - 03:38
And even though it was a disappointing race, having them there was so comforting. And I know that they're going to love me no matter what. And so that has been so huge for me, the support from them.

Summer Finke
03:38 - 03:57
Yeah. I mean, it truly takes a village. Everyone that's in the water has so many supporters behind them, whether it's direct family members or just fans in the stands. you know, as a former swimmer, it's so important to have that community to help uplift you when things don't necessarily go according to plan because, you know, they almost never really do.

Summer Finke
03:58 - 04:13
You mentioned that you didn't really specialize in swimming until seventh grade, and you are a extremely, extremely impressive distance swimmer. So at what point in your swimming career did you find that you know, you chose distance or distance chose you.

Ashley Twichell
04:14 - 04:27
Yeah. I think it was probably a little bit of both, but definitely I think later on in my career then probably would be typical. Um, I didn't come from like a high yardage club team at all. I came from a pretty small club team really through high school.

Ashley Twichell
04:27 - 04:28
Like I'd never done a double before going to college.

Summer Finke
04:28 - 04:29
I'd never done.

Ashley Twichell
04:30 - 04:53
Yeah. I'd never done any like strength training really or dry land. I did probably like, I probably averaged about like 30,000 yards a week, maybe and so I swam like club and I swam high school for three of the three of the four years and I think I like our high school meets I started doing the 500 and and. realized I was, you know, pretty decent at it.

Ashley Twichell
04:53 - 05:09
And so I think it kind of took off from there. And then when I went to Duke, the, the yardage increased again. And I realized that with a little bit more yardage, I, I think I dropped like a minute, my freshman year of college in the mile. I think I went into the 1650 short course mile.

Ashley Twichell
05:09 - 05:31
And I think I went to 15, like right around the 1550 at, at NCAAs that year, maybe a little bit above. So, um, Yeah, I think my career had like a pretty like I would guess say it's like slow progression, especially compared to some other athletes. But I think it's also part of what's allowed me to stay in it so long and really have maintained such a love for it.

Summer Finke
05:31 - 05:42
Yeah. Kind of touching on that last piece. What do you think has allowed you to stay? at such a high level in such demanding events like distance swimming in the pool and open water?

Ashley Twichell
05:42 - 05:57
Yeah, I think a couple of things. I think definitely just like the genuine love for the sport. Like I said, I've always just loved being in the water, whether it's for fun or for training or for competing. And I think having that underlying baseline is huge.

Ashley Twichell
05:57 - 06:21
And then Like we touched on earlier, I think the support from like my family and friends, you know, if I hadn't had the support of my, my parents, particularly after college to continue swimming, like I, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to, when I came out of college, I certainly wasn't making money. I wasn't, I didn't have any sponsors or anything like that. And I'm so fortunate and so grateful that they encouraged me to keep swimming and see what I could do.

Ashley Twichell
06:21 - 06:38
And. It certainly wasn't the intent to like keep swimming for how long I've been swimming, it was really like, let's, let's do a summer and see how it goes and then it kind of kept, you know, every year was like another year but I think just yet the love for this for the support I've had. from family and friends.

Ashley Twichell
06:38 - 06:57
And then I feel like my parents did a really good job of instilling, like having a balance from a really young age. Like I said, that started as like doing multiple sports. And then I think being on a smaller club team that didn't do doubles kind of lent itself to naturally being able to just kind of have more of a balance. And there are pros and cons to that for sure.

Ashley Twichell
06:57 - 07:05
But I academics were important to me. Swimming was important to me. My social life was important to me. And I think I carried that through to college too.

Ashley Twichell
07:05 - 07:09
And it allowed me to maintain that after college too.

Summer Finke
07:10 - 07:33
Yeah. And I mean, it's so difficult in a sport that's demanding like swimming where you have doubles, you have strength training, mental toughness, sports psychology. You have all of these elements that kind of go into professional level swimming that a lot of swimmers get burnt out, you know, even within college, they get burnt out during their careers. And so, as you said, having that balance is so important.

Summer Finke
07:34 - 07:50
And it's so amazing to hear that you never did doubles before going to college, because I think there's this misconception that high school swimmers need to be doing doubles. They need to be in the pool. They need to be in the strength room. They need to be doing all of these things to be successful.

Summer Finke
07:51 - 08:11
But at the end of the day, you want your career to progress kind of like this. It's not always going to. I mean, it is an ocean in itself, but having that background and letting your your journey kind of progress is something that's, you know, so beautiful. Also, just watching from from my end as well.

Ashley Twichell
08:11 - 08:43
Yeah, I will say I'm like so grateful, like looking back now and like having the perspective. Like I'm it's all I knew like that's all I knew was club team I was on and what what I was doing and I think I would have really struggled if like it was in today's day and age where you have social media like it's what everyone else is doing is like so at your fingertips and I wasn't really like. able to or thinking about comparing what I was doing to anyone else because you didn't know what anyone else was really doing except your own little bubble.

Ashley Twichell
08:43 - 09:01
And so I feel for the kids nowadays. Plus, then recruiting has gotten so intense and kids are committing so early. And I think that all adds on a lot of pressure, for sure, that I didn't necessarily have. And so, yeah, I'm super grateful for the journey I had.

Summer Finke
09:03 - 09:26
No, absolutely. I mean, I grew up kind of at the starting end of social media, and it's amazing to see how much social media has progressed. Like you said, college swimming has progressed, transferring has progressed, like all things have progressed. And, you know, it is difficult being an athlete in today's society, but we'll get to your social media presence a little bit later.

Summer Finke
09:27 - 09:36
You've represented the U.S. on countless international stages. What is it about open water that excites and challenges you the most?

Ashley Twichell
09:36 - 09:49
Yeah, I think so. I my first open water like actual race was in 2010. It was the summer after my junior year of college. And I had done open water swims before.

Ashley Twichell
09:49 - 10:04
I'd done quite quite a few of the swim across America events in Long Island, Long Island Sound. And so I was like a four mile swim in the ocean. I love that. And I would go to Florida for two weeks for like spring break and middle school and high school with my family.

Ashley Twichell
10:04 - 10:17
And since I was taking two weeks out of the water, I would like some ocean swims with my dad, just like a mile. And I love that. And so. I, when my coach, I think my Duke coach brought up open water nationals to me and a teammate.

Ashley Twichell
10:17 - 10:22
And I was like, that sounds awesome. Like open water distance swimming. It was in California and long beach. I was like, let's do it.

Ashley Twichell
10:22 - 10:31
So I went out there and it was awful. Like, I think I got, I got last or second to last place. The water was like 61 degrees. I had no idea.

Ashley Twichell
10:31 - 10:39
I had never done anything over a mile in the pool. So I had no idea about feeding. I didn't feed at all. I think I came out like slightly hypothermic.

Ashley Twichell
10:39 - 10:51
It was terrible. And I remember my coach, my, like my Duke coach, my club coach at home, my mom was there with me. And they were all kind of like, you know, the 5k was two days later, like it normally is. And I was signed up for that.

Ashley Twichell
10:51 - 11:02
And they were like, You don't have to do that. Maybe open water's not your thing. And I think something in me just knew that if I didn't give it another chance, I would probably never touch open water again. So I did the five because it went a lot better.

Ashley Twichell
11:02 - 11:18
I think I got eighth and obviously half the distance, so it wasn't as cold. And then the next summer, I was invited to the open water select camp. And that's kind of what kickstarted my open water career. But it's just so different from the pool, which is definitely exciting.

Ashley Twichell
11:18 - 11:31
I definitely prefer training in the pool. The constants I like knowing the set I'm doing and the intervals and the times I'm going for sure, but racing open water. It's just so exciting. Like you have so many variables that you don't have in the pool with.

Ashley Twichell
11:31 - 11:50
water temperature and currents and, um, waves are a flat race, saltwater, freshwater. And so it's fun. And I think another aspect of it is because of all those variables, like the fastest person in the pool, is it necessarily going to be the person who wins the race? And so that can be frustrating at times, but I think it also, it's really cool.

Ashley Twichell
11:50 - 12:08
Like you go into every race, really not knowing, and you can control what you're doing, but you really can't control what people around you are doing. And so. I think it's another thing that's allowed me to stay in the sport so long as being able to kind of bounce back and forth between pool and open water. Like as soon as I finish an open water race, I'm like, OK, I'm ready for the pool.

Ashley Twichell
12:09 - 12:10
It's fun to do.

Summer Finke
12:11 - 12:23
No, I don't think people truly. realize what goes into open water swimming. I mean, like you said, I also did my first open water race and it was just kind of, hey, let's go do this. And again, you have no idea about feeding.

Summer Finke
12:23 - 12:43
You have no idea about, you know, what suits you're allowed to wear, duct taping, caps to foreheads. Like I made the mistake of wearing Swedish goggles. Don't wear Swedish goggles, you'll get kicked in the face. But there's so many elements that, you know, growing up in pool swimming, you don't understand until you've actually competed open water.

Summer Finke
12:45 - 13:11
And it'd be so interesting to see if we kind of started that open water experience just a little bit younger. Because I know when I was in college, I would have jumped at the opportunity to do open water, but everyone is so pool focused. We miss so many talented individuals that could have had such a successful career in open water. But we're so focused, again, on everything that's happening in the pool that we miss this whole other fun aspect of swimming itself.

Ashley Twichell
13:12 - 13:31
Absolutely. And I think it's becoming, I hope it's becoming more obvious that like you can you can do both. And I hope like Haley Anderson and Jordan Wilmosky and myself, we're all like representatives of that. But like, I believe that like, they each strengthen each other, I think.

Ashley Twichell
13:31 - 13:52
Racing open water definitely helps my pool swimming and I think pool swimming definitely helps my open water swimming. And, and I'm so grateful like it gave me an opportunity on the national team like that was open water is what put me on the national team and so even if summaries don't necessarily, I just encourage everyone to try it like you never know. Try it twice. Exactly.

Ashley Twichell
13:52 - 14:07
Try it twice, because it's like you said, like it's so different than pool. And so it can be so overwhelming and so jarring the first race you do, the first event you do, but definitely give another shot. And there's so much there's so many opportunities. And I'm so grateful for the opportunities it's given me.

Summer Finke
14:07 - 14:27
Yeah, no, absolutely. Qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics and representing Team USA It was such a special moment for me who grew up kind of idolizing you in the sport and watching you qualify for the Olympics. What stands out most to you when you think back about that experience?

Ashley Twichell
14:28 - 14:46
Yeah, I mean, I was never like a kid that grew up being like, I want to be an Olympian. Like I said, I loved swimming. It was a family thing, but we watched the Olympics, but I was never like, like, like, I never like look at the TV. I was like, I want that to be me.

Ashley Twichell
14:46 - 15:08
And like, of course, like, I would have loved it. But it was never like I never like, necessarily like dreamed about that. And I don't think it was until I like went to college and then definitely like Michigan Bay, when I was when I moved out there that some coaches kind of like put it in my head, like, you know, like, it's not out of the question. And so as it became more of like, okay, maybe this could happen.

Ashley Twichell
15:08 - 15:39
And then I, when I really narrowly missed making the Olympic team in 2012, in open water, That was when like that fire was kind of lit within me and I was like when it was like so close it was within within reach and I missed it I was like okay, like I do really want it I think that showed to me that I did really want it and then I missed in the pool and open water in 2016 and so when 2019 came and I finally qualified. Like the, the first emotion honestly was relief. It was like, oh my goodness, like it wasn't all for nothing.

Ashley Twichell
15:39 - 15:54
And, and now I know like, even if I hadn't qualified, like it wouldn't have all been for nothing, but like, that was my, that was my first thought. And I feel like I put off things for my swimming career, which like, I'm glad I did. Um, but it. It was really exciting.

Ashley Twichell
15:54 - 16:14
And like I said, just like a relief to have, to have made the team. And, um, I'm really proud of that race because I feel like I went into it really confident and also with a bit of a different mindset than. I had gone into prior races with, especially like such a, such a pivotal and such a big race. I remember being at the Olympic training center in the lead up to that race.

Ashley Twichell
16:15 - 16:38
Um, actually I was training with, with Becca man at the training center and a few others. And I remember thinking to myself, oh my gosh, if I don't qualify, I'll have been swimming for eight years post-graduation and for nothing. And again, like I've said, I've realized that that wouldn't be the case. And it was just swirling around in my head and almost this anxiety and panic, what if I don't make it again?

Ashley Twichell
16:38 - 17:15
And I remember talking to a coach and my parents and expressing those thoughts and saying them out loud. coming to the realization myself that like if I didn't qualify like it would be okay and being proud of the fact that like I put it on the line like knowing I might not qualify and I think at the end of the day like that's really hard to do and that's something to be proud of and I would have been like super disappointed of course if I hadn't made it but I think a year, two years, three years on the road. Like I still would have been really, really proud that like, I knew it was a scary thought that I could possibly not qualify again.

Ashley Twichell
17:15 - 17:31
And I still went for it. And so I think like going into the race and like, I remember like standing on the dock before the start and like having those thoughts. And I think that put me in like such a different place and allowed me to race like much more calmly than I normally would have. And like, it's a two hour race.

Ashley Twichell
17:31 - 17:48
And so when you're like swimming in a panic, that's a lot of energy you're wasting. And so I felt like I was like, really like, just like in the moment in that race. And I haven't had a ton of 10 Ks like that. I usually I'm like my mind skipping ahead to like, what's going to happen at the seven K what's gonna happen today.

Ashley Twichell
17:48 - 18:20
And I was just like, really able to like, be in the moment and like not panic and around the last turn there was 800 meters to go and I just got turns are not my forte in the pool or open water I just got like clobbered on the turn I remember coming out and thinking like there are so the top 10 qualified for the Olympics and thinking like knowing that there were a lot more ahead of me than, than nine people. And now I know that I was in 14th coming around that last turn. And I'm still like, when I think back to it, I'm like so proud of myself that like, I didn't panic.

Ashley Twichell
18:20 - 18:41
Like I just like, I was like, okay, well like all I can do is like, give it my all these last 10 minutes, this last 800 and see what happens. And I like steadily moved up. And I think with like 50 meters to go, I was in third and I didn't have a great finish. I think there were like, I think it was like, seven seconds separating like first through 10th, like it was really close.

Ashley Twichell
18:42 - 18:53
And so and I finished, I think, in seventh place. And like I said, like the first emotion was definitely just like relief and then just like really proud and excited. And my parents were there. My husband was there.

Ashley Twichell
18:54 - 19:08
Two of my swim coaches were there. So it was it was really, really exciting. And and then to like have a year to train was exciting to which then turned into the two years, which is so exciting. But yeah, I mean, it's a race like I'll always remember for sure.

Summer Finke
19:09 - 19:42
No, like you said, I mean, it takes so much strength to just try. And, you know, you say these years, like, like, it was nothing like 2012, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021. But, you know, putting it in context, like, those are like years of training, it's years of work, it's years of you know, effort and like you said, kind of not necessarily sacrificing, but putting things on the back burner for this dream. And it's so, you know, just inspiring and amazing just to see people try.

Summer Finke
19:42 - 19:57
And like you said, as swimmers, we have this tendency to be like an all or nothing mentality. It's like, well, either you made it or either you didn't. And so it's either you were successful or either you failed. And it's not until later we realize, okay, you know, I didn't fail.

Summer Finke
19:58 - 20:10
Like I showed up, I gave it everything I had, and this was the result. And that is always, always, always something to be so proud of. How was your experience at Tokyo itself?

Ashley Twichell
20:11 - 20:26
It was awesome. I mean, it was, of course, disappointing, like, you know, no one could come. So like, no feeling like, again, like I said, like having my family, is such a highlight of my career. I love sharing the awesome experiences with them.

Ashley Twichell
20:26 - 21:02
And also, of course, it's amazing to have them there in the disappointing times too. And so not being able to have them there was definitely disappointing, but so grateful it was even able to happen. And the training camp in Hawaii was so fun with the team and the pool team and open water team were together, which was awesome. And it was honestly the first time really like doing much since COVID had really started and we were still like really contained like the hotel and the pool and we did some open water swims but that was really fun it was really special and really cool to just

Ashley Twichell
21:02 - 21:29
like bond with the team and then going over to Tokyo was was great as well and I roamed with Allison Schmidt in Hawaii which was awesome we became super close and that was that was really, really fun. And then after a few days in Tokyo, we kind of split off the open water group. And so Haley, Jordan and myself kind of did our own thing for a week or two, which was really fun too. And we had traveled a bunch together already, but we became closer as well.

Ashley Twichell
21:29 - 21:58
And like I said, like we really couldn't leave the hotel and we were in the hotel for quite a while before we moved into the village. So we were, you know, watching the pool races and playing games and ordering delivery and stuff like that. But yeah, it was really special. And I think like other races and competitions in my career, the things that stand out are really the relationships I made and the memories you make, not necessarily in the race itself, but in the lead up and after.

Ashley Twichell
21:58 - 22:18
And those are always super special. And so the people of Japan were amazing. Obviously, we couldn't have spectators, but I remember being on the bus to training one day and seeing some Japanese citizens like standing outside with like signs like we're so you and just like things like that. And obviously it had been a really hard like year, year and a half.

Ashley Twichell
22:18 - 22:42
And so even just like being in the dining hall, like seeing people from like all over the world and speaking so many languages and all different sports. And like, it was the first time people had been able to gather like that in a really long time. And so regardless of what we were coming together for, it happened to be sport. But it was just really cool to kind of see some positivity and some optimism again.

Summer Finke
22:43 - 23:04
Yeah, no, that's incredible. I mean, like you said, sport and swimming especially gives you so many friendships and so many relationships kind of along the way, some you may not even have expected. And so it's that element of sport that is so amazing. I mean, without it, I wouldn't be here speaking with you right now.

Summer Finke
23:04 - 23:24
Yeah. It's really just this fossil. And I mean, like you said, you look back and you don't necessarily remember exact times or exact splits or exact workouts, but you remember the feeling of, of being there, the feeling of being in the water and surrounded by, you know, such like-minded individuals that are all just cheering for each other and, you know, just happy to be there.

Ashley Twichell
23:24 - 23:25
Absolutely.

Summer Finke
23:26 - 23:40
Going on into kind of your leadership and advocacy in the sport, you've been such a strong leader and athlete representative within USA Swimming. What motivated you to take on that role outside of just being a national team athlete?

Ashley Twichell
23:41 - 24:20
Yeah, I, I think I was approached by a couple staff members to, you know, apply to be on. At first, it was just like the ads, a couple athlete committees and then that led to being on the board of directors but back to like, when I was on Mission Viejo not or so right after I graduated college I was on on Mission Viejo for a couple years and I found myself on that board. kind of pushed into that a little bit actually like really enjoying it and it was cool to kind of, like, see a little bit of like behind the scenes and I think as a summer, you know, club and college but then definitely like post grad being on the

Ashley Twichell
24:20 - 24:46
club team. I just like was kind of going through the motions and and like I was, I love that program like I was so happy to be a part of it and then it was, it was really like eye opening to see like how much work goes on behind the scenes to and and this similar with USA something you know. Being able to sit in on those meetings and see how much the staff and the volunteers and everyone is doing behind the scenes is really cool.

Ashley Twichell
24:46 - 25:23
And then just to be able to be a voice for the athletes is really important and to hopefully be able to have other athletes approach me and be able to help if I can. And I was, I remember in the lead up to Tokyo, having questions about Like with coven like what would happen with our call like we at first we didn't know if our qualification would hold answer being pushed back here and I remember going to Natalie Coughlin who is the athlete representative at the time for us and asking her and she was like so helpful and advocating for me and finding out answers and so. I was grateful to her and kind of look to her as a role model for that.

Ashley Twichell
25:23 - 25:50
And so, yeah, it was really, it was really cool and really special and really rewarding to be able to serve on those committees and, and kind of give, give back in a way like swimming has given me so, so much in USA swimming has afforded me so many opportunities. So it was, it was cool to be able to, to give back in that way and to kind of see the other side of things, you know, I've been on the national team for like Oh gosh, I guess like 14 years now with a couple years with my kids.

Ashley Twichell
25:50 - 25:59
And so it really wasn't until like 2021, 2022 that I was really able to kind of see the other side of things and how much goes on behind the scenes.

Summer Finke
25:59 - 26:35
No, it's crazy how much is happening kind of behind the scenes and You know, as a swimmer, we're kind of focusing on what we're doing and our own lane, even though in this instance, it might not be necessarily a lane. But there is so much that happens and we need those voices in sport to speak on our experiences so that there is kind of this vessel for change if things need to change. Or like you said, there's so many questions that, you know, swimmers might not have the answer to that. You need someone to advocate for you in a leadership position because you might not be able to advocate for yourself at the time.

Summer Finke
26:36 - 26:40
What kind of culture do you hope to build for the next generation of swimmers?

Ashley Twichell
26:41 - 26:55
Yeah, I think, um, our sports really unique. Cause like our national team, we train like all over the place. The ages range from like, gosh, like I probably 15 now, I don't know, 14, 15. Um, yeah.

Ashley Twichell
26:55 - 27:00
And I'm old. Like it's, it's such a wide range. It's definitely like unique. Our sport is definitely unique.

Ashley Twichell
27:00 - 27:29
Um, but I think there's, there's been a lot of work done to, to build and maintain a really positive culture and atmosphere. And, you know, I think I've done several, several camps with the national team. And it's really cool how, like, even though you're training all over the place, like when you come together, you're still one team, you're still representing the United States, whether it's a training camp or a competition. And so I think just that, that pride, I think is really important.

Ashley Twichell
27:29 - 28:05
And I think, you know, with that you have like working hard I think that's um like such a pillar of of what I try to do and and um it's been such a pillar of my career and so I think you know if you have like working hard and having fun um and being like proud of what what you're representing. I had a coach actually coach Rose Fernandez I remember just a couple weeks after I moved out there I was representing the U.S. internationally and at Worlds in Shanghai and he wrote me an email and he, in the email, it was, I think the last line of the email was, remember who you are and what you represent.

Ashley Twichell
28:05 - 28:27
And I like, please carry that with me. Like whether it's like a club team or a college team or like your country, like it's so important and, or your family, like whatever it is, like it's just like such a simple line that means so much, like remembering like who you are and being proud of it and representing that in the way you want to. And I think, I think like, I guess that line would like encompass what I would want the culture to be.

Summer Finke
28:28 - 28:46
Yeah. And I mean, it is so special. And I know I kind of touched on it earlier, but as athletes, sometimes it's, it's difficult to stay in the moment and stay present and realize why you are there and all that it took to get there because we're so focused on the result or, you know, what's going to happen next.

Summer Finke
28:46 - 28:53
What am I having for dinner? What time am I warming up? What time am I waking up? It's so easy to kind of lose that within our sport.

Summer Finke
28:53 - 29:16
So that's such a great reminder that, you know, be proud of everything that you've done and everything that's going to happen in the future, because it is such an honor to be at this stage, whether it's high school states or whether it's the Olympics. I mean, you all work to get there. And so, yeah, I mean, you could write that on a bulletin board everywhere. Yeah.

Summer Finke
29:19 - 29:26
At this stage in your career, how has training or your mindset kind of shifted from when you were in your early 20s?

Ashley Twichell
29:28 - 29:59
Yeah, it's definitely shifted. Like I said, I feel like I've always strived to maintain a pretty good balance in my life and never let swimming become the only thing in my life. But that being said, it was definitely more of a primary focus in my early 20s than it is now naturally. I, I definitely never thought I would still be swimming I definitely even like at the, at the Olympics like I thought for sure that was my last race.

Summer Finke
29:59 - 30:00
Yeah.

Ashley Twichell
30:00 - 30:13
And then. When I got pregnant, I like, I felt terrible in the beginning. And so naturally kind of just like felt found myself back in the water. And I didn't do a whole lot of training my first pregnancy.

Ashley Twichell
30:13 - 30:30
Like I was somewhat the master's group, like 3k, maybe like three or four times a week. But like, just loved how it made me like made me feel. And really, I swam up, I think until the day I was induced. And then naturally kind of like found myself back in the water after having my son.

Ashley Twichell
30:31 - 30:55
And, um, like I think like two months postpartum and I, my first postpartum was, was pretty difficult. And so I found myself like really needing something for myself. And so once we kind of got into a groove where like, I was able to leave in the mornings and my husband was home with him, um, it became such a good outlet for me. And again, like, I didn't really know what was going to come of it.

Ashley Twichell
30:55 - 31:12
And I just like, I've always been someone who likes to take things like day by day, week by week. Like I don't like to think like, okay, like I'm going to swim this meet in a year. Like that's, that's too overwhelming for me. And so I've always taken my career like that, but like even more so, um, since I've become a mom.

Ashley Twichell
31:12 - 31:32
And so I just kind of like talked with John Payne, my, my coach now, and, and was really just like, I just want to see what happens. Like, I want to see how I progress. I don't want to put any pressure on myself. Um, I didn't really have a training group then I was just kind of swimming on my own and before I knew it, I had committed to swimming a race in South Africa that I've done a bunch of times, an open water race.

Ashley Twichell
31:32 - 31:52
And I ended up getting second, like right on the heels of Sharon van Ruvendael, who had won gold in Tokyo. And so I was like, okay, like maybe it would still be decent, yeah. And then it became like really fun to like try to balance the two. And of course, like it looks a lot different than it used to.

Ashley Twichell
31:53 - 32:17
I'm like, I'm okay with that though. Like I, I'm like, I want, like my main focus is being a mom and like, that's what I want it to be. And I know that like, maybe I could have been better at trials last summer if I was doing doubles every day, or if I was doing more strength training, but like at the end of the day, like, that's not what I want. Like I wanted to have the balance I had.

Ashley Twichell
32:17 - 32:43
And so I'm okay with that. And again, I think that in turn just gives me the confidence and like, I'm good with, with what I'm doing and I'm like proud of what I'm doing and like I wouldn't want to change anything and I'm finding my own, like, it's a different journey this time to like right now I'm not doing any doubles and I don't know if I will just kind of like taking it day by day and seeing how I feel and it's been cool like I. I've always been someone who when I'm in the pool, I'm in the pool.

Ashley Twichell
32:43 - 32:59
When I'm not in the pool, I'm not in the pool, but even more so now. When I'm home with my kids, there's no time for me to be thinking about, oh, I wish I had gone this time. That's so far removed at that point. I'm getting them lunch and getting my kid dressed for school, all the things.

Ashley Twichell
32:59 - 33:12
It's so great that I have three hours to myself in the morning, but I'm like home by eight, like my daughter's not even awake yet. And then I have the day with that. Like right now that's like the perfect balance for me. Um, and I'm, I'm really enjoying it.

Ashley Twichell
33:12 - 33:15
So I'm really grateful for, for what swimming is providing me now.

Summer Finke
33:16 - 33:30
Yeah. I mean, it seems like such a healthy outlet. you know, being able to kind of separate the two. And like you said, have that time for yourself and, you know, still work for something that is solely for you, for your mental, physical, emotional, you know, holistic health.

Summer Finke
33:30 - 33:48
But then being able to kind of shut off that side of you when you walk in the door and have this whole other outlet that brings joy. And like you said, there's no time to be thinking about sets or what happened prior in the day. I know. My brother is kind of the same way.

Summer Finke
33:48 - 34:00
It's always when he's outside of practice. We don't talk about swimming because at the end of the day, swimming is something that he does. It's not who he is. And a lot of people don't understand that.

Summer Finke
34:00 - 34:10
They're like, what do you mean you don't know what he's doing for practice? I'm like. I don't I don't I like I care about you if you're right. I like I don't I don't care.

Summer Finke
34:10 - 34:14
Right. Because that's not my focus with him. Yeah. Yep.

Summer Finke
34:14 - 34:24
I love that. Yeah, it's so healthy. So, I mean, getting into your training group, I know you said you previously swam alone. That is not the case anymore.

Summer Finke
34:25 - 34:36
You have an incredible group. I love watching all of the videos that I've seen on social media. Looks like there was another one filmed today. Yeah.

Summer Finke
34:37 - 34:46
Um, you know, speaking of Becca man earlier, how has it been training alongside Becca and having that camaraderie with your training group now.

Ashley Twichell
34:47 - 35:00
Yeah, it's been so awesome. I definitely like didn't foresee us training together again we've actually this is like the first time we've really like trained together on the same team we've. done training trips together. Like I said, we were together at the training center in 2019.

Ashley Twichell
35:01 - 35:21
Um, I think we did a couple of that year together and that's where we became close. We did a couple of races in Hawaii together too. But, um, yeah, I was like so excited when she said she was going to come out of retirement and, um, it kind of like coincided with when I got pregnant again. So we had like a, a few months last year where we were both like doing the same practices.

Ashley Twichell
35:21 - 35:39
And then as I got more pregnant, I kind of slowed down a little bit, but we're back at it together again. And it's so fun. Like it's, it's really cool to, to have such a close relationship with someone in such a, such a good friendship. And also, I mean, at the, we haven't competed against each other in a while, but like, we will be at, at open water nationals.

Ashley Twichell
35:39 - 35:57
I think that's my plan as of now to go to open water nationals. And so, um, and like, we both know that and, and we're both competitive and in the pool where like, we're racing each other, but like, our friendship is so much more important than that. And it kind of goes back to what you were just saying. Swimming is swimming, but your relationships with people are more important than that.

Ashley Twichell
35:58 - 36:39
And it's really fun to have someone that you can push each other in the water and also be competing against each other, but also genuinely want the best for each other. And I vividly remember in 2019 when I qualified for the Olympics, she wanted to qualify too and and didn't and I remember her FaceTiming me after I qualified and like her like crying tears of joy and I was like wow like for her to like be so happy for me when like I've been in that position of of of missing it and like that's really hard and for her to like still like care about me enough to like be so happy for me like That's that says a lot about someone. And so it's been really cool to have her back here.

Ashley Twichell
36:39 - 36:54
And she lived with us for a few months. She moved back to North Carolina as you're moving houses in North Carolina. And so the way like my parents were with us helping us move and so we didn't have like all of our stuff was packed up. And so we didn't have room at our old house.

Ashley Twichell
36:55 - 37:15
And so she was actually the first person. like staying in our new house before, like we were like, she like opened the house for us. Um, but it's, we just like have such a, such a fun relationship and she's like awesome with my kids and they love her. And so it's really fun to like have that relationship, like such a good training partner in the pool and also just like such a good friend out of the pool.

Summer Finke
37:15 - 37:45
Yeah. I think it's such a misconception that, you know, if you swim the same races or if you're competing in the same event or at the same meet that you can't be friends because swimming at the end of the day it is such a team sport I mean like I said there's a community behind you but it is so individual, like you're focused on yourself. And once that race is over, it's so easy to be happy for your friends and celebrate everyone's successes.

Summer Finke
37:45 - 37:58
And so they're like, why are you so happy? And it's like, because we're all doing this together. And I think we all understand the work that goes into it. And so it's such a special moment when anybody succeeds.

Summer Finke
37:59 - 38:14
I absolutely love watching trials, you know, just seeing people who were not predicted to make the team make the team. I'm a huge crier. So like, I cry a lot watching trials and watching the Olympics. They're like, Are you okay?

Summer Finke
38:15 - 38:36
I don't really know. But it's, it's just so special. And I mean, it's so fun, you know, as an outsider watching, you and Becca's videos and you guys training together because it just seems like such a healthy and fun dynamic. I do have to ask, who comes up with the ideas for the videos?

Ashley Twichell
38:36 - 38:48
Like 99% of them. 99% yes. Yeah. She's like, been on she had me get a tick tock like a few months ago, but like, she's been like on the tick tock game like way longer.

Ashley Twichell
38:50 - 39:13
Like the stories definitely. But yeah, she like loves coming up with the ideas and like, x and she'll be like, it's like we practice at 545 in the morning. So like, it's early and I can't really like, do much after because I have to like, get out pretty much right when we're done to get home to my kids and my husband goes to work. And so a lot of times if we want to film, it's like either before or like really quickly after, but she is like, she knows exactly what she wants to do and gets it done.

Ashley Twichell
39:14 - 39:15
Yeah, she's on it.

Summer Finke
39:15 - 39:35
Yeah. But I think especially for distance swimmers, because We always see sprinters, you know, making these fun videos and doing all of these fun things. And so it's, it's been really fun to see, you know, the distance swimmers kind of taking a crack at it and all of them, we've got our coach involved as a bunny.

Ashley Twichell
39:35 - 39:42
He has like no social media, but his wife will like comment on them and be like, yeah. It's been fun.

Summer Finke
39:42 - 39:55
Oh, my gosh. No, please, please, please. I mean, they're like the highlight of my day. What keeps you motivated to continue competing at the elite level after achieving so much already?

Ashley Twichell
39:56 - 40:09
Yeah, I think at this point, it's just to kind of like, see what I can do. I like the year leading up to the Olympics was really hard for me. I like I said, I qualified in 2019. I was so excited.

Ashley Twichell
40:11 - 40:32
And I was really excited to compete and then hopefully start my family. And then when I got pushed back, it was really hard. And then on top of it being hard, I felt guilty for having a hard time because I was like, this is what I've wanted for nine years now. And I'm like, like struggling through practice, not struggling.

Ashley Twichell
40:32 - 40:59
Like I was, I was having good practices, but I remember like being, I was actually at mission for a training camp and on their like scoreboard, they had like 88 days till trials. And I remember every day looking at it and being like, okay, like I'm one day closer and being like, I've never, like, I never really felt like that in my career before. And I was feeling like it, like when I was getting ready for like, what was going to be like the biggest meat of my life, like the highest level we can get to in our sport and feeling like guilty for struggling. My shoulder was really bad.

Ashley Twichell
40:59 - 41:11
So like struggling through that, and that was like the main thing that was really hard for me. It was my shoulder. Like I would go into every practice not knowing if I'd be able to finish or not. And like, that's what I love about swimming is like pushing myself in training.

Ashley Twichell
41:11 - 41:36
So like when my shoulder started to hurt, I would be really annoyed I couldn't finish and so the that year leading up was was really hard and like I said in the Olympics was still an amazing experience and so grateful for that but like I was I remember texting my husband and like June of 2021 I was at the training center before pool trials. I remember texting him being like, I can't wait till I touch the touch pad in Tokyo. And I'm like, done.

Ashley Twichell
41:36 - 41:55
Like I was just and again, like I was looking forward to it. I'm so grateful that I kind of like had a mind shift change and my shoulder was better. And so I had a great experience, but I like for sure thought I was done done. And then, like I said, I naturally kind of found myself back in the water and it was almost like a fresh slate.

Ashley Twichell
41:55 - 42:14
Like I feel like For the first time in like longer than I can remember probably since I had had a shoulder surgery and took like two months out of the water back in 2014 and so like I had. grown a baby and had a baby and like was postpartum, like my body was different. I was breastfeeding. And so it was like, let's just like see what I can do.

Ashley Twichell
42:14 - 42:27
And then that was really fun the past couple of years doing that. And honestly, I didn't think I would do as well pool trials as I did. And I initially really didn't have plans to come back in the pool. It was really just to see what I could do in open water.

Ashley Twichell
42:27 - 42:49
And then when I miss qualifying open water, it was kind of like, well, I'm in good shape. Like I might as well go, yeah, and see what I can do at trials. I was so happy to get third I have a post where I was like happiest third place finisher like I was just so excited to be there and to like have my son there watching me and of course like he had just turned two, he has no idea what's happening.

Ashley Twichell
42:49 - 43:18
But I hope one day he does and look back at those videos of him cheering and watching and hopefully he will be proud of me. But it's really cool to, and again, now this pregnancy and postpartum, it's kind of a fresh slate again. And it's really humbling coming back, this time even more so than the last time. This time I literally felt like I had, like to learn how to swim again, but it, it also came back a little faster than it did the first, the first pregnancy.

Ashley Twichell
43:19 - 43:32
Um, but I, I trained a lot more this pregnancy than I did the first one. Um, but I'm actually, I think something going to meet in two days, the 500. So, but again, like I have no idea, like literally no idea. And like, that's exciting.

Ashley Twichell
43:32 - 44:12
And I think even honestly, like after, um, my first baby, I didn't, I had, um, him in May and I didn't compete until March. And I remember being like, Like, I hope like swimsuit doesn't see like I don't want anyone to know I'm so mean like I don't know what I'm going to go. And now I'm like, why, who cares like I just want to see what I can go and like I like I said like I don't really know what my plan is I think I'm going to some open water nationals, as of now like I like when I first got back and it was really rough and I'm actually feel like I'm in like pretty good shape again and so I'm going to submit 500,000, I think, and like, I'm just excited to see like I really have no idea and like to have both my kids are watching

Ashley Twichell
44:12 - 44:38
it's just like at our pool and so yeah I think just like at this point it's it's fun to just like push myself and see what I can do and see how close I could get to my times. And then, um, honestly, just as importantly now is like just staying like strong and healthy for my kids. And I want to be able to like run around with them as, as long as possible. And for me, at least right now, like swimming is still like my favorite form of exercise.

Ashley Twichell
44:38 - 45:04
So, um, I feel really lucky that I have like, a job that I can also work out on and get time to myself. It's kind of like the best of all the worlds right now. And so, yeah, I feel really lucky and grateful. And again, we'll see how I do in a couple of days and maybe that'll all change, but no, it's been fun and I'm excited just to see where it goes.

Summer Finke
45:05 - 45:33
No, like you said, I mean, it's fun to swim and it's even more fun to not have this sense of, pressure on yourself that, you know, we kind of internalize, um, a lot of swimmers, you know, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to consistently go best times to go best times in season out of season, have best times in practice. And so it's so fun to kind of deconstruct that. We find out why you enjoy the water and then, you know, just swim to swim.

Summer Finke
45:33 - 45:43
And a lot of times the end result will. be better. I mean, my coach always said, like, a happy summer is a fast summer. And I find that so, so true.

Ashley Twichell
45:43 - 45:45
Yeah, absolutely.

Summer Finke
45:46 - 46:18
Well, I was gonna ask about your goals and upcoming competition, but I'm so excited just to like, see you swim. You know, I know that probably sounds weird. But it's been so much fun to kind of watch your journey and see, you know, you progress and now talking with you and hearing your mindset behind each one of your races and how it's progressed throughout trials and throughout your journey. It's been a lot of fun for me to kind of learn from you and your history in the sport.

Summer Finke
46:18 - 46:25
Thank you. When you think about your legacy, both in and out of the water, what do you hope people will remember?

Ashley Twichell
46:25 - 46:45
Oh, man, that's hard. I mean, I hope I'm an example that everyone's path doesn't have to look the same. Like I said, I was definitely a late bloomer in terms of my success, I would say. I made my first national team at 21.

Ashley Twichell
46:46 - 47:02
I made the Olympics for the first time at, I think I was 30. And again, I'm so grateful I didn't really have that comparison, especially in my younger years. I think it would have been a lot harder. everyone's path is different and like everyone's path should be different.

Ashley Twichell
47:03 - 47:26
And, and like, you can get to the same place and in so many different ways, like there's not one right way. And, and I have found myself like guilty of that, that too, like, well, my competitors doing like X amount of yardage or this set or that set and like, like, there's not one right answer. If there was, everyone would be doing it, but there are so many different ways to do it. And I hope I'm an example of that.

Ashley Twichell
47:26 - 47:43
And even throughout my own career, I've done different ways of training. I've done different amounts of yardage. And I think each place I've gone, I've continued to get better. And I think that's a testament just to, there are a lot of different ways to perform well and to get to your best.

Ashley Twichell
47:43 - 48:21
And then I always think about, I hear a lot of, professional athletes, like in all different sports, say like, you can do anything you set your mind to. And I, I know there's like, that's like a, it's supposed to be really positive. And like, I get the meaning behind it, but like, I, I kind of like cringe whenever I hear it, because I'm like, I don't think you always can like, and I think that's okay. Like we talked about, like, I think you can, Like have a really high goal and like do everything in your power to get to it and like sometimes you fall short and like that's okay and I think it, it can be a little toxic to like think like.

Ashley Twichell
48:22 - 48:57
If I, if I do everything I'm going to get there because then if you don't like it doesn't mean you didn't do everything you could like something like not everyone can be an Olympic gold medalist like no matter how hard they try like not everyone can be a national champion like you just not everyone can be a division one swimmer like you can try your best and you can do all the things and like still not make it like and that's okay and. And I hope, like, I'm a testament to that, too, like I did end up making an Olympic team, like, even if I hadn't, like, I would still be the same swimmer, like, my accolades would still be pretty much the same, like, just because like one race doesn't define your career.

Ashley Twichell
48:58 - 49:15
And, like, I just hope that people can look to me and see that like, You can, again, if I hadn't made the Olympics, it almost would be a better example. But I think you can do all the things. You can work really hard. You can do everything right and still fall short.

Ashley Twichell
49:15 - 49:33
And like we've talked about earlier, that's something to be super, super proud of. That's really hard to do to put yourself out there, knowing that you might, I don't want to say the word fail, but knowing that you might not meet your goal. That's scary and it's hard to do. And I think that's just as impressive as when you do reach your goal.

Summer Finke
49:33 - 50:00
Yeah. Now, like we said, I mean, it takes so much guts and so much strength just to, like you said, put yourself out there and try. And it is so toxic, you know, to feed this Olympic dream to each and every young athlete, you know, at young ages, I mean, all the way down to four and five, and we kind of negate the process that goes into it. Because in my opinion, like the only time you fail is if you don't try.

Summer Finke
50:01 - 50:08
So ultimately, every single person is winning in some form or fashion.

Ashley Twichell
50:08 - 50:18
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I like my son is three now. And he like does like soccer on like Saturdays. And I'm like, he like will like dribble the ball.

Ashley Twichell
50:18 - 50:27
So proud of it. I'm like, man, like, I wish we could like, maintain that mindset for ourselves. Like, he's having fun and he's trying hard. Like that's really all that should matter.

Ashley Twichell
50:27 - 50:47
Like at the end of the day, like that's all we can really ask of ourselves. And so like, I've tried to carry that onto myself and I hope I can continue like instilling it in my kids and having them believe in themselves and like knowing that that's what's important at the end of the day. But I think we definitely lose that along the way. And I, like I said earlier, I don't think social media helps all that much either.

Summer Finke
50:49 - 51:00
No, absolutely. And just one last question for you. What advice would you give to younger athletes to hope to have a long and balanced, fulfilling career like yours?

Ashley Twichell
51:02 - 51:14
I think we touched on a lot of it. I think having fun and enjoying it is so important. I think that's kind of baseline, but also knowing that you're not going to love every day. That's OK.

Ashley Twichell
51:14 - 51:22
I have people ask me a lot. how do you wake up every morning, like get excited to go to the pool? I'm like, I'm not excited to go to the pool. Like, and that's okay.

Ashley Twichell
51:23 - 51:42
Like sometimes like just like the discipline has to come into it. And again, like it's a little different at this point in my career, but like, especially like in college, post-grad, like there were days when my alarm would go off and I'm like, oh my gosh, no. And like, that's okay too. But like the underlying feeling should be like enjoying it and having fun.

Ashley Twichell
51:43 - 52:13
And I think, surrounding yourself with the right people, I think is so huge, whether that's teammates, coaches, your family. Swimming's a really hard sport, and it takes a lot out of you physically and emotionally and mentally, and it's a ton time-wise. And so finding people that you can go to, and like we said, you want to have those people to celebrate your successes with, but more importantly, you want to have those same people that you can go to when you have the disappointments, when you have the setbacks, I think that's, that's so important.

Ashley Twichell
52:13 - 52:51
And there were so many times in my career that if I didn't have that support system behind me, I probably would have retired a lot earlier. Um, but knowing I had their support and their encouragement and not that they were like making me continue, but like knowing that, I think just showing me that, like, like you said earlier too, like you're more than swimming, like we're going to love you no matter what. And that kind of takes off the pressure and allows me to see something for what it is, which is just that, like, I love to do it and I'm grateful to do it at the end of the day. And so I think, yeah, those are I think the big things having fun and finding your support system I think is so important and just the balance like you've got to have something else too.

Ashley Twichell
52:51 - 53:08
And that can be so many different things like whether it's family or friends or academics like whatever it is or another sport or an instrument, but having balance so that something doesn't become your whole entire world and you're able to like see outside of the pool and and do things outside of the pool.

Summer Finke
53:08 - 53:12
Yeah. No, I love that term. See outside of the pool. Cause it is so important.

Summer Finke
53:12 - 53:24
I mean, we feed again, this dream where you have to be, or we think we have to be solely focused on one thing, but you know, there's so many things outside of swimming that will ultimately help your swimming. Although you may not see it in the moment.

Ashley Twichell
53:24 - 53:41
Yeah. And then, and like remembering too, that like the swimming is going to end one day and like competitively and like, And so like when that day comes, like you want to have things outside of the pool to kind of fall back on and to make the transition a little bit easier.

Summer Finke
53:41 - 53:55
Yeah. Well, just another second to thank you for, you know, taking the time to sit down with me. I know it's, it's late. Kids are, kids are hopefully in bed asleep and daylight savings has been absolutely crazy.

Summer Finke
53:56 - 54:13
Um, but I know that this conversation is going to help so many young athletes, parents, coaches out there. So thank you. Thank you, Summer. Well guys, I hope that you enjoyed this week's episode just as much as I did.

Summer Finke
54:13 - 54:42
I know being a former distance swimmer, it's always so much fun for me to connect with fellow distance swimmers and actually takes distance swimming to a whole nother level with open water and 10K events. If you liked this episode, please, please, please like, subscribe, and share with all of your swimming friends and family. A huge shout out to the International Swim Coaches Association and Swimming World Magazine. Without their help, this podcast would not be possible.

Summer Finke
54:42 - 54:54
Be sure to follow us on social media. I will put the links right here, and we'll also put our social media handles in the description below. So with that, I will catch you all next time.