On winning the gold medal at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, Flickinger said, “That felt amazing. It is always so fun to represent the United States, and that was my first big medal for the United States. It was very special.”
Flickinger continued, “It was amazing to hear the national anthem played in your honor at the Pan Pacs, and that is one thing that you can never take for granted. That was my first time ever experiencing that. It made me want to do it again and again. That moment was very special. I hope that I am able to do it in even bigger stages in the future.”
Last month, in July, Flickinger also won the gold medal at the Phillips 66 National Championships. “The nationals were so much fun in Irvine. I love swimming outside.”
Regarding her plans for the future, Flickinger said, “I plan to swim through 2020. After that, it is all up in the air. If I am enjoying it, maybe I will keep going. I am taking it day by day.”
Each day, Flickinger is motivated by the goals that she has in mind. “I love setting goals, and I haven’t achieved a lot that I have set out for myself, and I am really working towards them. They keep me going,” she said.
For aspiring swimmers, the 24-year-old swimmer said, “If you have a dream just work hard towards it because it can come true. I was very little when I had the dream of becoming an Olympian, and I worked really hard. Here we are now.”
On the key to longevity with swimming, she acknowledged that it is all about “having fun.” “When you are doing something for hours and hours a day, and for years and years, if that love is not there, you are not going to be able to keep going,” she explained. “The love for the sport is going to give you so much passion in everything that you do.”
She defined the word success as “Doing your best and giving it your all.”
Digital transformation of aquatics
On the impact of technology on aquatics, Flickinger said, “Technology has been huge. I have found it very helpful with my stroke. It helps me go forward. As long as technology keeps getting better and more advanced, it helps swimmers a lot for sure.”
“I use technology all the time, especially with recovery,” she said. “NormaTec has been huge for me. I also use technology for physical therapy purposes to keep the body recovered. That is really important.”
Flickinger shared that she has a few GoPros, though she doesn’t really use them.
For her supporters and followers, she concluded, “Thank you, and I hope I can be an inspiration for so many. I feel I can relate to a lot of people. I was just a girl with a dream and I worked really hard towards it, and I hope I can inspire other people to reach their dreams as well.”
To learn more about American swimmer Hali Flickinger, follow her on Instagram, and on Twitter.
