A few months ago, Mary-Sophie Harvey found her spark in the pool again.
Her performance at the 2023 Pan American Games proved what that spark can do.
The Canadian star won seven medals, including three gold, in Santiago, Chile, in a statement meet that Harvey is in fact back.
Not just back as in enjoying the pool again, but back as one of the world’s premier swimmers.
Harvey claimed the gold medal in the 200 freestyle (1:58.08), near her personal-best time, and took the silver in the 200 IM (2:11.92).
“This gave me a lot more confidence in knowing what I can do,” Mary-Sophie Harvey told Swimming World. “We are heading into the right direction going into the Olympic year. I am at a good place mentally and physically. I want to be faster and get on a podium again. Once you experience the podium, you just want more.”
The gold in the 200 free was an extra whirlwind because Harvey’s suit strap broke in the ready room and she had to get a new one on in a matter of two minutes before her race started.
“It was a new suit and I put my straps on last. I asked someone to help with my straps during the B final of the 200 free. It just ripped and all the girls were like, ‘OH MY GOD,’ so I got really stressed and started to run. I put on a new suit in two minutes, but it helped me with my race stress. I didn’t feel the first 50. I had more energy at the end, so it might have worked in my favor,” Harvey said. “I thought I could throw down a good 200. I knew I had a chance to win, but to see 1:58.08 at the beginning of the season was great because my best time was 1:57.7, so just off my best. It is definitely a confidence booster.”
It was a signature moment for Harvey – her first international gold individually.
“It was pretty cool. It has been a long time coming. My last gold medal was as a junior in 2016. I was surprised the first one was in the 200 free, but it was great confidence for the season. I have been working well in the freestyle,” Harvey said.
Part of the success came from her mental approach to the meet.
“I didn’t really know what to expect coming into the meet because it is October and it is the beginning of the (training) season. I had that mentality going in and I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself. It was the first meet back and you never know where you are going to be,” Harvey said. “Last year I had too many expectations going into World Cups and my times were slower. So this is just a starting point to build from. I just wanted to have fun and get more experience.”
Harvey was also a huge factor in Canada’s relays, helping the team to gold in the 400 free relay and 400 medley relay, as well as the silver in the 400 mixed medley relay and the bronze in the 800 free relay and mixed 400 free relay.
“I was excited to do more relays. I really wanted to be a pillar for the Olympic relays and I knew I had this opportunity to get more experience,” she said. “All of the training and racing helped to manage and stay focused at one race at a time. I can’t look at the big picture and think about doing 12 races. You just have to know that every race isn’t going to go perfectly.”
Though it was tough to beat the 400 free relay and 400 medley relay gold medals – especially with Harvey anchoring the latter.
“When you are swimming with your teammates, you always try to give a little extra. I think my favorite podium was the last one, the medley relay. We knew we had a shot but it was going to be close. I was eager to finally anchor a relay and see if I could throw down in a close race,” Mary-Sophie Harvey said. “Hopefully I can do a lot more relays in Paris.”
It has been just a few months since a mini breakout performance at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale in March where Harvey said she had found her “spark” again after some personal and professional road blocks.
“The more I race, the more I enjoy swimming. At Fort Lauderdale, I was reminded of how that feels. Now, I am having so much fun,” she said. “A happy swimmer is a fast swimmer, and I stand by that. Before I left for Pan Ams, I was reflecting on my last games in 2019 and a lot happened then – and I almost quit swimming. It is kind of crazy now to see everything that has happened since then and I am thankful I kept swimming. I thought my best years were behind me, but now I know they are ahead of me.”
Harvey will aim for making the Olympics in the 200 IM, 200 free and 100 free, which could put her on a few relays as well.
A little different than swimming the backstroke events at Trials in 2021 with her top events changing year by year.
“It is good that I can swim everything, but it sometimes is a curse because it is hard for me to know 100% what is my best event. I had a coach tell me I was good at everything but not the best at anything. That cut deep, but I can see it,” she said. “I swam backstroke for a year and medaled at trials. Sometimes it is hard to choose. I need to focus and not be too picky. That is something I struggle with. It is finally clear in my mind and I can see progress since we are focused on these events.”
It is all about the mindset now for Harvey.
“I am trying to enjoy the moment and now worry about the results, because the results will come,” Mary-Sophie Harvey said. “I am focused on the Olympics. I am not going to go to Worlds in February, but just training. I am not planning on stopping anytime soon. As long as I am having fun and love what I am doing, why stop?”