Paige Madden Uses Re-found Love of Swimming to Surge to Second Olympic Team

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Paige Madden was on top of the world.

The University of Virginia champion qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and swam her best times on the Olympic stage.

So fast that she continued her career as a professional swimmer.

But things quickly changed.

“I struggled my first year as a pro swimmer because my whole life, I have been a student-athlete and all of a sudden, I was Paige the swimmer. It really wore on my self-worth. There were several points I thought I was done with the sport. I was at an all-time low. … I think going abroad and getting my masters took the edge off and I was a student-athlete again,” Madden said. “It was a lot. I was sort of all over the place. But I think I needed to get through that to get where I am now. Just learning to fall back in love with swimming, getting my head right and my health right – it was all necessary. It takes such an emotional toll.”

Madden got her master’s degree at Loughborough University in Great Britain, re-found that love and started the second phase of her career, that has led to a second Olympic team.

Madden finished second in the 400 freestyle to earn a spot in Paris.

“I think I am pretty resilient,” she said. “I love pressure and I thrive under it. It was learning to enjoy the sport rather than define my success on times. More than anything, I never thought I would go a best time ever again after Tokyo.”

But on Saturday, Madden threw down a 4:02.08 to finish second. She was four seconds behind Katie Ledecky, who broke the meet record in 3:58.35, but Madden was so dominant that she, in turn, was more than four seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

“It is crazy. I never thought I would be a one-time Olympian, so to be two-time is amazing,” Paige Madden said. “It takes a village for me to get where I am. I am thankful for everyone who has helped get me here. But it shows that I can do hard things. I have worked really, really had this year and hard work pays off.”

Madden then made the 800 free relay squad.

“Relays for Team USA are everything. I would much rather be on a relay than swim an individual race. It is what Team USA is all about,” she said. “Making it back – I am proving to myself that I can overcome adversity. I want to inspire people that if you set your mind to something, you can do it. I am proud that I have been able to work through everything.”

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