Cary-based swimmer Ashley Twichell is preparing for her fifth Olympic trials and says her approach to training is different as she heads into what's likely to be her last Olympics.
FIND OUT HOW THIS TRAINING IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AND NATIONWIDE. >> A PROFESSIONAL SUMMER FROM KERRY. ASHLEY TWITCHELL TWITCHELL IS VYING FOR A SPOT ON TEAM USA FOR THE 2024 OLYMPICS. THIS COMES AFTER HER 7TH PLACE FINISH IN TOKYO AND TAKING ON A NEW TITLE. MOM AS WR DESTINY. PATTERSON REPORTS THE DECORATED SWIMMER SAYS SHE HAS CHANGED HER OUTLOOK AT APPROACH TO THE SPORT IN ORDER TO BALANCE IT ALL. >> ASHLEY TWITCHELL YS, HAPPY PLACE. >> I'M STILL ENJOYING ON. SO LOVING IT. >> THE LONGTIME SWIMMERS SAYS THAT'S WHAT KEEPS TRYING HER BACK WAS ACTUALLY PLANNING ON RETIRING. >> IT COMES AFTER THE THEN 32 YEAR-OLD SWAM THE 10 KILOMETER DURING THE TOKYO OLYMPICS TAKING HOME 7 PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF HER CAREER. SHE'S PUSHED THROUGH SITUATIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE OTHERWISE IN THE END OF IT, INCLUDING REOCCURRING SHOULDER INJURY AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WITH THE LIBYAN SAYS HER NEW TITLE IS ACTUALLY PART OF WHAT MOTIVATED HER TO COMPETE AGAIN, REALLY HAVE A LOT. BUT I I REALLY JUST TRYING TO THINK OF AS A FRESH, CLEAN SLATE DURING THAT FIRST TRIMESTER WHEN I >> REALLY WASN'T FEELING GREAT. I WAS THE ONE THING THAT MADE ME FEEL BETTER. SHE SHARES HER SON WITH HUSBAND ERIC WALL. THE 2 OF THEM SPEND MUCH OF THEIR DAYS OF THE TRIANGLE AQUATICS CENTER WALL IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND TWITCHELL AS AN ATHLETE. >> AS SHE PREPARES FOR HER 5TH OLYMPIC TRIALS. SHE SAYS SHE HAS A NEW APPROACH TO TRAINING ONE THAT HELPED HER ONCE AGAIN. >> FALL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT. >> INSTEAD OF BEING IN THE WATER 20 HOURS A WEEK ON THE WATER, PROBABLY 14 HOURS A WEEK. IF YOU ASK HER, IT'S ABOUT BALANCE, GIVING EVERYTHING I HAVE LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN IT DID BEFORE HAVING. >> A KID AND SAD. SHE SAYS SHE HAS A NEW SENSE OF CALMNESS. >> HOW WOULD YOU ENTER A SAYS AND TO FIND ANYTHING REALLY ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT THE STANDS AND SEE HER NUMBER ONE FANS. YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THAT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW HIM PICTURES AND HAVE HIM >> EXPERIENCE THAT AND THEN SEE AS MOM CAN BE, I THINK, WILL BE REALLY SPECIAL. AMONG THE MANY HOURS OF TRAINING AND PUSHING HERSELF BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY. >> THIS WINTER'S SAYS SHE'S TAKING IT DAY BY DAY TO ME THAT REGRET OF NOT KNOWING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS WORSE MAYBE FALLING SHORT OF THEIR GOAL. DESTINY. HENDERSON, WRAL NEWS, KERRY. >> SO BEFORE THE OLYMPIC TRIALS IN JUNE, SE WILL BE COMPETING
