00:00How has this process of reconnecting with sports been for you after this time away?
00:07Yes, three years is quite a long time. I believe I had to re-establish myself emotionally and physically.
00:14It's a project that we spent a lot of time carefully working on and detailing so that we...
00:21could execute it in the best way possible.
00:23But I believe that today we were certain that it works, right? It's a very special moment to be...
00:30Here competing in the Marialen, which is the first major competition at the national level, alongside girls who have times
00:36amazing.
00:37And after three years, to be coming back, right? I've been training for a year now, and to be back close to them...
00:44Beating the competition in the lead is very rewarding.
00:45And do you feel, do you feel that you've come back physically and mentally different from the Etiane you were before?
00:53Everything. Everything is different now. My recovery is different, my mind, the way I act, my
01:00A way of thinking, how I'm going to withdraw, how I'm going to activate.
01:05This competition itself required me to understand what it's like to be in the middle of it again, with so many eyes on me, so many people.
01:11people.
01:11I wasn't very used to it anymore, you know? I was away for three years.
01:16So, it's also about being open, being flexible, being open to change.
01:21So, this is a completely different Etienne, Etienne the athlete mom.
01:25And what was the most challenging moment of this return? Was it the physical aspect, the psychological one, or getting back into the rhythm?
01:34I think physically, achieving certain things related to speed takes time.
01:43But the biggest challenge for me was the routine. Routine, for me, is something very different from...
01:50that I had, right?
01:51Today I have my routine alongside my son. And the most challenging part was when he got sick.
01:56I literally had no routine. I even gave up training at times because of seeing a sick child.
02:03It's very difficult.
02:05So, these are the obstacles I face today as a mom and athlete.
02:09And I believe that with the people around you understanding, both technically and within your family, you can get through it more easily.
02:18right?
02:18So, it's a different time, it's a different sport for me today, experiencing high performance.
02:25And did you ever doubt that you could reach peak performance again?
02:31Several moments. I think that during difficult training sessions, we start to doubt ourselves.
02:36That's normal, right? When things get difficult, we start to doubt ourselves.
02:41But the most important thing is the people you have around you, right?
02:46Your coach, your husband, your family, your doctors, the people, the physical therapists who look at you and say things like that,
02:53Dude, you can do it. You still have some life left in you. So, this strengthens a lot of people.
02:58And now, speaking of competition, you won first place today, but the times you've been achieving...
03:04Are they within what you envisioned for this moment?
03:08Yes, I was planning, I've been walking day by day, you know? We started with 29, 0, then we did 29, 40, then
03:1628, 8.
03:18It's within what I want and step by step, right?
03:22I haven't set any goals yet. Oh, in this competition I want to achieve X time.
03:26I set goals to, like, get ahead, restructure.
03:30My goal is to be swimming a Finkel, right? In September, which is the qualifying event for the World Championships.
03:35That way I have a bit more training programming available.
03:38I only had 20 weeks of actual performance training.
03:42So, I'm having to rebuild a lot of things.
03:44So, it's not time yet to, like, "I'm going to make the index, I'm going to do that."
03:48There's a time we need to recharge a bit, even physically.
03:55So that we can come up with something clearer, like this.
03:58But I'm very happy. 28.4 is very good on a national level.
04:02Internacional, we need to score a significant 27.
04:05But it's one day at a time.
04:06I think it's a process that requires a lot of perseverance for us to achieve.
04:11So now there's no internal pressure for results, right?
04:15Another period of reconstruction, is that it?
04:16Yes, it doesn't exist and it never will.
04:18I don't want that to exist, because today, being a mother and an athlete, it was my choice, my decision.
04:24And I chose not to have pressure until 2028 and I will continue like this, because it is a privilege for me to be...
04:30back.
04:31And I can't use this phase I'm in now to put pressure on myself.
04:35I think it's about having the courage to go ahead, because it takes a lot of courage to come here and do this.
04:40what we are trying to do.
04:42And what's it like competing side-by-side with a generation so much younger than you, right?
04:47There are people who are 10 years younger competing in the same event.
04:50How does that feel for you?
04:52Ah, it's different, but I don't think about it much from there.
04:56I intend to do my best, to focus on myself.
05:00Swimming is a very individual sport; if we think too much about our opponent, we lose focus on ourselves.
05:06So, I'm focusing a lot on 2028, I want to achieve something very, very big.
05:12So, I'm not really looking at the new generation.
05:15I'm picking things that bring me happiness, right?
05:20I'm not under pressure to show this to the next generation.
05:22I think it's the generation that has to catch up.
05:25So, my role in Brazilian swimming today is to pursue my dream.
05:30So now when you talk about Los Angeles in 2028, that's a concrete goal, right?
05:35Yes, it's a concrete goal. I came back specifically to secure an Olympic spot.
05:39And what needs to happen for you to reach your best version?
05:44I need to dedicate myself. I need to have positive people around me.
05:50I need to have a confederation, directors, and coordinators working in favor of Brazilian swimming.
05:58The more athletes performing at a high level, the better, right?
06:05Be better. So, I need to dedicate myself.
06:08And the people around them also need to practice and do their best.
06:12And now, thinking about your trajectory, what would make this possible participation in 2028 have a different meaning from the others?
06:22To be an Olympic medalist. Is that it?
06:25Do you believe that today you have a more relaxed or more mature relationship with swimming?
06:32More mature, for sure. Lighter, right? A dreamer.
06:41And I've been through a lot in my swimming career.
06:45I went through depression, I went through two surgeries, I went through a lot.
06:50And the choice I made is that, regardless of what happens, I'm going to be happy, you know?
06:55I'll be realistic. I want this.
06:57People are like, "Oh, are you nervous?" Yes, but I feel light, you know? I'm happy, and I think that's a...
07:02My choice, you understand?
07:04Like, if I finish third, if I finish fourth, if I finish eighth.
07:07I want to be happy during these two years.
07:10And what still motivates you to continue competing?
07:14Adrenaline. Willpower, challenge, beating the pack, winning a medal, being the best, exhilarating.
07:24To build something nice, like this, for swimming, for me, for my family, for my son.
07:29So, that's what motivates me, you know? That's what motivates me.
07:31And I know that later, in 2028, I have another mission, but right now this is what motivates me.
07:37It's about being there, enjoying what I can do best within the things I'm best at.
07:41What can I do best within the framework of what I'm best at?
07:46Thanks.
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