“Going to the Olympics is incredible and I’m honored to be one of the few select people to have ever represented Great Britain at the Olympics.”
Tokyo riots
Regardless of the outcome, she wrote herself into the history books the moment she dived into the waters of Odaiba Marine Park, but for Deering, that was the problem—the outcome was everything.
Dropping out of the top group early on, Dearing finished 19th, with Brazil’s Marcela Cunha taking gold. “I am very broken,” she told reporters after the race.
Four months later, when CNN talks to her, the pain is still fresh.
“It was not at all what I expected or expected from myself, I was really disappointed with it,” Dearing said.
“It will always be with me and I think there is nothing wrong with that – it is the passion I have for wanting to be who I am, I want to be one of the best athletes in the world.
“The fact that such an outcome ultimately reflects my entire life is what really hurts me at the moment.”
“Fuel for the fire”
Months after intense training, Dearing has focused on the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the literal home games for the West Midlands born and raised Dearing.
However, given the extent of her frustration, it’s no surprise that she’s already set her sights on the Paris 2024 Olympics, with qualification scheduled to take place a year before the Games.
If the “fuel for the fire” ignited by Tokyo’s injury weren’t enough, Dearing would have arrived in Paris without the extra weight associated with her first time in the Olympics – a weight she admits she’s underweight. appreciated at the time. .
“I didn’t give it as much attention as I thought I should have,” Dearing said.
“I thought, ‘I’m competing against the same women that I always compete against… how different will the Games be?’ And they were.
“It was exciting and amazing, but also incredibly scary. Knowing all these emotions – everything that is happening – will only strengthen my mental frame and my attitude towards Paris.
Return of the fans
“I can experience the Games as they were in the past – have fans there and live by them,” she said.
“I’ve only had one visit to see me at a competition abroad, so I’m kind of used to having no one by my side, but Paris would be a great opportunity to gather friends and family and make everyone happy.” good time.
“Hopefully I swim well and have a really good race and then have a big party at the end – it’s all part of the fun of the sport.”
