RIO DE JANEIRO (WHDH) — Swimmer Elizabeth Beisel is in Rio de Janeiro for her third Olympics and is hoping to go out on top in what will likely be her final Olympic appearance.
Beisel won a silver and bronze medal at the London games in 2012 and she is hoping to win gold in Rio. The Saunderstown, Rhode Island native started swimming at age 5 and joined the local swim team before she joined the Blue Fish Swim Club in Massachusetts.
“Thank god for my parents,” said Beisel. “They drove me there and back every single day without a question. Just for me to live my Olympic dream. So I pretty much owe all my successes to them.
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Beisel made her first Olympic appearance at the age of 15 in Beijing in 2008, when she was the youngest athlete on the United States Swim Team. Beisel compared herself to a “deer in headlights” being on the same team as swimmers like Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. Eight years later, she is now the captain of the swim team.
Beisel said she is very proud to be from Rhode Island and even has a tattoo of an anchor on her rib as a tribute.
“Rhode Island has been the biggest support system I’ve had since my Olympic journey,” said Beisel.
Beisel will compete in the 400-meter individual relay, the same event where she won silver in London. With this possibly being her last Olympics, she said she wants to make the most of the race.
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