Standing atop the Olympic podium with a medal around their neck is a fleeting moment that represents years of intense dedication, commitment, and meticulous planning.
Athletes invest their entire lives into pushing their physical and mental boundaries to achieve this pinnacle.
But what happens after the Games conclude?
Izzy Thorpe and Kate Shortman made history in Paris by securing Great Britain’s first Olympic medal in artistic swimming with a silver in the Duet event. This achievement surpassed the country’s previous best finish in the sport, which was a fourth-place result by Caroline Holmyard and Carolyn Wilson in Los Angeles in 1984.
Just under two weeks after returning from Paris, Thorpe shared with Swimming World: “It’s definitely strange transitioning from a rigorous training routine with the same people every day—it was just Kate, our coach, and me at our training center. We’d train from 8 am to 7 pm some days, Monday to Saturday, which was incredibly intense. Now that I have all this free time, I’m unsure how to fill it. The last two weeks have been packed with media engagements, but I plan to reflect on what comes next. I’ll likely return to the pool and establish a new daily routine—otherwise, I can definitely see myself feeling a bit lost without that structure.”
Thorpe made these comments at the launch of Swim England’s #LoveSwimming campaign, which emphasizes the broader benefits of swimming lessons for children, including improved happiness, confidence, and social skills.
Swim England’s research reveals that over two-thirds of parents (68%) believe swimming lessons have helped their children make new friends. Additionally, nearly 70% of parents with children currently taking lessons report that their child’s concentration improves following these sessions. Importantly, 91% of parents agree that their child enjoys their swimming lessons.
Thorpe, 23, began swimming with Shortman around the age of seven, and they clinched their first duet win at just 10 years old. Thorpe’s mother, Karen, competed alongside Shortman’s mother, Maria, in the 1980s and narrowly missed qualifying for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
