BigTeamIU: Time 44 41 a touchdown wins it snap back to Hilinski drops back has time passes left caught made at the catchment of the 20 yard line more over the 10 runs for the win dives for the pylon touchdown Washington State he's celebrating like he was over the goal line it's a
Nomusa: Yeah, kind of adding on to that, what would you say was your process and path towards going to the Olympics in Paris 2024? Of course, you won the silver medal, so kind of just that whole journey. You know, something that I find super interesting is I kind of like to think we grew up in like the peak time of swimming during the 2010s with Lilly King, Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, and for you to now be in the role where you're, you know, their peers, you are practicing alongside Katie Ledecky and stuff. How was that? In our sports athlete mental health class, actually talked a lot about different pre-routine tips to ⁓ help the nerves and ⁓ initial feelings when you're going up for a competition. ⁓ So how you say you handle that? And what kind of personal things do you do to prepare for a big moment like the Olympics? As we've talked about, you've accomplished so much already at such a young age. So what do you see long-term and in the future for your career? ⁓ what you say are your goals right now for ⁓ your career in athletics?
Jakayla K: Hello, welcome to the Unit3d Podcast. My name is Jakayla
Nomusa: to wrap up, ⁓ we wanted ask what do you see the future of women's in general ⁓ looking like, especially with the of NIL like we talked about and ⁓ just ⁓ as you see a lot of female athletes are ⁓ utilizing their name and brand for like modeling careers and just different ⁓ avenues outside of athletics. ⁓ So do you kind of the entire future of ⁓
Nina Winsick: Stop!
Madeline: Hi everyone, welcome back to United podcast. My name is Madeline Koch and I'm excited to be here with you for our final episode of the season. As a host, current PhD student at Indiana University and someone who teaches undergraduate courses on student athlete mental health, our conversations have been near and dear to my heart. We wanted to end this season on a high note and give it back to some of the kids in that course. So we launched a competition inviting students to create and pitch their own episode ideas centered on student athlete mental health.
Nomusa: and my name is Nomusa
Jakayla K: And we are students in G207's Sport Athlete Mental Health here at IU Bloomington episode is going be very exciting because today we have none other than Anna Peplowski
Nomusa: Anna Peplowski is an Olympic silver medalist swimmer. She is a standout athlete at IU as well, also as an NCAA American. is known for her strong performances in freestyle events and relays. While many people focus on the physical side of swimming, we to center our conversation with her on the psychological side.
Madeline: my gosh, Namusa what are you doing? You're making the podcast. eating my pep witch. Bro, what are you doing? You know Anna Peplowski has the best bagel at Blooming Ton Bagels. my gosh, come on bro, we have to go make the podcast. The responses were incredible. Students really came together and showed up to put together some thoughtful and creative ideas. Today's episode is brought to you by the winners of that competition. We're proud to highlight two students who stood out. Please join me in welcoming and congratulating our winners, Nomusa and Jakayla Take it away, ladies.
Nomusa: women's athletics going.
Jakayla K: In this episode, we will be exploring how athletes bounce back from setbacks, stay motivated over time, and preparing for other big moments.
Nomusa: These topics are especially important for athletes in individual sports like swimming. We will also discuss her feelings and strides on the future of women's sports and also some personal topics which we wanted to ask her about. all So ⁓ for context, we were in a sports mental health class and we were allowed to do a sports psych podcast idea. we made a little podcast ⁓ snippet and we won the podcast competition. So now we have the opportunity, to interview you.
Anna Peplowski: That's so fun. ⁓ my gosh. Yeah, that sounds like a fun class.
Nomusa: yeah for sure So they start off all the episodes with a little snippet of coach and it's the video where he says ⁓ Google me. I would just say like what was the originally? ⁓
Anna Peplowski: Ooh. Yeah, he says or like I win Google me something
Jakayla K: Yeah, I went Google me.
Nomusa: Yeah, So first question today is to ask you if people were to Google you, what would they find?
Anna Peplowski: Honestly, probably just a lot of like swimming related stuff. I've done a lot of stuff like in my hometown, I would say. So I think there ⁓ probably be some stuff like relating to ⁓ park pool in my hometown. ⁓ Just to try to keep that pool open, like doing fundraisers and stuff, ⁓ trying do like good stuff for the community. But Probably all swimming related stuff, stuff from the Olympics, stuff from Indiana University swimming, college swimming. Yeah, that's probably it. It's kind of my whole persona right now in life is swimming.
Nomusa: haha I mean, I definitely
Jakayla K: Okay. Yeah, what are some of the different experiences swimming from here in Indiana and IU to swimming there in Illinois?
Nomusa: Okay.
Anna Peplowski: Growing up in central Illinois, the swim community out there is very small. So I didn't have a pool in my high school. Whereas in Indiana, every single high school here has either a 25 yard pool or a full size Olympic pool. So swimming in Indiana is completely different than swimming in central Illinois just because we didn't have those facilities readily accessible to us. And committing to IU and Swimming at Indiana, like everything is within like five minutes of where I live, which is so convenient. Whereas when I was swimming on club, like I had to swim or I had to train 45 minutes away with like a high level club team just to be able to be recruited in college. yeah, there's 180 degree difference between Illinois and Indiana, I would say, but Indiana swimming is a lot better than Illinois. But overall, mean, like growing up and stuff, like we have a short course like. 25 meter pool that was outside and we'd swim in the summer. So it was just like a really good like foundational base for me to have fun while I was young before it got like really competitive. So.
Jakayla K: That's great. And what made you choose Indiana to come compete in Swingin'?
Nomusa: For sure, I will say...
Anna Peplowski: So I started ⁓ getting recruited junior year of high school and my older sister swam at Indiana University. She was ⁓ four years than me. ⁓ So she a senior when I was a freshman and I tried not to have like our relationship interfere with like my recruiting process just because I was looking at some other schools and taking other visits because ⁓ I didn't to quote follow her. ⁓ I she was a huge influence in me coming to Indiana just because like I love all my siblings so much. And so my recruiting process went through all of all of it was really great, committed to Indiana. And yeah, it was just the best experience, like being able to swim with my sister for two years because she took her fifth year at IU. So we had two years together and yeah, we had like completely different experiences, but we got to like share so many great memories together, which is great. So.
Jakayla K: That's great. ⁓ exactly. ⁓ What would you say some of the challenges are from ⁓ high school swimming to collegiate swimming and Olympics if you want to get into that as well?
Anna Peplowski: This is it. Mm-hmm. I would say, ⁓ once again, we have a high school, or we didn't have a pool in our high school. So ⁓ high school season really different compared to all the schools in Chicago. ⁓ When we would to the state championships, it was always like Chicago versus downstate. ⁓ And like all schools downstate, like if you had a pool, like it'd be lucky if you even made it to state. So for my team to be making it to state was like crazy. And like ⁓ when me and sister were swimming together in high school, like it would be like, ⁓ my gosh, those downstate swimmers, like they don't even have pools in their high school. Like how are they making it to state? And we just kind of like capitalized on that like opportunity, like, okay, yeah, we're doing this and we don't even have a pool in our high school. And the opportunity that we get to be up at state with all of these schools that have like Olympic sized pools in their high schools, like how lucky are we to be doing this? So that kind of just like was really eye-opening for both of us in high school that like, okay, maybe we could be really good. And so she committed to swim at Indiana and I kind of like started taking off in my swimming career with like club swimming and I had to make a lot of sacrifices in high school. Like I couldn't go to like Friday night football games or like I even missed out on like a prom or a homecoming because I had a state championship meet like for club. So just like different like sacrifices that I had to make in club swimming ⁓ to ultimately get me to IU. But those challenges like They helped me to be like who I am today, I would say. So all of like the time management skills that I had to, you know, adopt traveling an hour and a half to and from club practice every day, having my club team 45 minutes away wasn't easy. So I had to like take up different like time management skills of when to do my homework and you know, when to hang out with friends and when to hang out with my family and stuff. So. Those skills helped me become a better athlete at Indiana. And the challenges that are here are nowhere compared to the challenges that I had to make in high school, I would say. The challenges here are more so competitive challenges. Like, OK, you want to make it on this international stage. You're going to have to do this, this, and this. Not having to worry about commuting 45 minutes to club practice and then 45 minutes home. So they're just different challenges. But I would say the challenges here at Indiana are like, way more like they're easier to like handle, I would say, if that makes sense.
Nomusa: Yeah, for sure. speaking of family, do you think that if it wasn't for all your siblings all being swimmers in that community, do you think you would have had persevered hard enough to go to the collegiate level?
Jakayla K: Absolutely, yes.
Anna Peplowski: Honestly, like, no. My sister, she pushed me so hard when we had one year on club swimming together. And I would not be where I am today without her either. She's a coach at Indiana right now. So she swam her five years. And then she actually got one of the coaching positions for our team. So I've been with her for, I don't even know, eight years at this point, swimming. And I just wouldn't see myself anywhere.
Nomusa: haha
Anna Peplowski: like without her and like my parents too like there was so many mornings where they were waking up at like 5 a.m to bring me to practice before high school like or before like middle school like they were always doing the most for me which is like i'm just so thankful for that and like all the the sacrifices they made to get me where i am today
Jakayla K: That's so cute,
Nomusa: For sure.
Anna Peplowski: so basically, like the way that I made the team was a little bit different. So in my event, six people qualify and depending on roster sizes, like they automatically take the top four in the 200 freestyle for the 800 freestyle relay, ⁓ but fifth and place don't get like formally announced to the team until the last day because of roster sizes. ⁓ So sixth place is like the last priority that they'll take. And then fifth place is like the second to last priority. And I was fifth. ⁓ But luckily for USA Swimming, we have so many girls that do double events like Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglas. Like those girls are making it in like two, three, four events. So the roster size was automatically already smaller. So. The day that I got announced, I knew if I was gonna get fifth or sixth, I was going to make the team just because of those girls making it in those double events. But my race was the third day of trials and it was a nine day meet. So I had to formally wait until the last day to get announced to the team. Which I knew I was already gonna go, but the public didn't really know necessarily.
Nomusa: Wow.
Jakayla K: Mm-hmm.
Anna Peplowski: So I had to wait and it was just like the anticipation was just building because I just wanted it to get announced and like for people to know like it was just like six days of just so many high emotions but also like, okay, I just want this like stress to be over. ⁓ But yeah, so they did like a huge like make the team or like made the team like announcement and we all got lifted onto this like elevator that like went up into Lucas Oil Stadium that like everyone could see which was really cool. And then
Nomusa: Yeah
Anna Peplowski: That day we got to do like fitting and stuff so we got to do like fitting for our Nike gear and our Ralph Lauren gear and our skims gear which was really fun But just like getting like introduced to the team was like so like I remember like everything about it It was just so much fun and like all the other girls were just so excited about it, too So yeah, it was really special
Jakayla K: That's pretty hard.
Anna Peplowski: I still think about that to this day, like last summer at Worlds, we were on the final relay together and we set a new American record together. And it's just like so crazy that like when I was growing up, watching her swim at the 2012, 2016 Olympics, always being like so inspired, like I want to do that. I want to be on that stage. And then to actually do it and like fulfill my childhood dreams of being a part of like Just like a relay alongside Katie Ledecky and like having her be a mentor for me is so special.
Nomusa: For sure, for sure. So as you're on these big stages with some of the best swimmers, including yourself in the world, how do you think you prepare for these moments? considering like, you're saying those six days, you're kind of just waiting anxiously. Like, were there any things you kind of did to handle that pressure and maintain your composure?
Anna Peplowski: So at the meet itself, I was actually going crazy. ⁓ talk about this often with my other Olympic teammates. My roommate in the village was Alex Shackle. So she's actually swimming at Indiana University now. ⁓ we talk about it often, just our shared experiences that we have together. ⁓ we both made the team in the same relay, but ⁓ both have totally different experiences with ⁓ we were feeling and the emotions we were having. ⁓
Nomusa: Yeah
Anna Peplowski: I would say something that's always helped me stay chill and composed out of me is knowing that I've put more hard work in practice than the race itself. So we're doing 6,000 yard practices every single practice and then knowing that my race is only a 200 and all the hard stuff that I did in that 6,000 yard practice is gonna help me for that 200. I think that's something that's also helped me so much. And alongside like, putting myself in the shoes at practice of like, pretending the big lights are there, pretending there's thousands of people watching, like putting myself in that high pressure situation has helped me a lot too, just like be able to practice, like putting myself in those shoes and like focusing on my mental health, like in that moment. But I mean, like at the meet itself, like ⁓ Lilly King and I were like the day before or. The morning of the night that we both made the team, we were making bracelets together, just like the charm bracelets, watching Shrek, and we didn't speak to each other for like three hours. We were just grinding bracelets, because we were just so nervous and just so in our heads about everything. And so we were just grinding, making bracelets, watching Shrek for so long and just not speaking to each other, because we were both so nervous. I think like everyone's experience is a little bit different, but I think like every day of that nine day meet, it literally felt like the Hunger Games. Like if you didn't make the team, it was the end of the world. Like getting third place for some people is like devastating because like you work your whole life towards a dream and for it to not work out and then like you're you get first and you're on top of the world or second or in my case, fifth or sixth in the top in the 800 or the the 200 freestyle.
Nomusa: Okay.
Anna Peplowski: And so everyone's experience is different, but mine is definitely all over the place for sure. But.
Nomusa: Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, it sounded a bit chaotic. But I think something that you brought up that is something that you brought up that it's pretty interesting is the visualization, like how you said, you sit there and kind of imagine the big lights and stuff. our sports athlete mental health class, we watched a video on Conor McGregor and he ⁓ described the same that before,
Anna Peplowski: Hahaha Mm-hmm. Mm.
Nomusa: He goes into any match, he's not really nervous, because like you were saying, he practiced for that moment, but also he's seen that moment in his mind a thousand times. So definitely think anyone can use in whatever ⁓ part of life that they may really stressed about,
Anna Peplowski: Yeah, and I think it's a skill that is very hard for people to learn, but once you learn it, you can use it in your favor with literally anything. Like envisioning like what a pool looks like by looking at pictures online, putting yourself in the situation of being at that pool and being present and knowing that like you're going to be competing there is like so powerful. Routine, yeah, I usually just keep it really simple. I ⁓ try to do anything out of the ordinary of what I usually do for practices and stuff, just because I think consistency with training ⁓ ⁓ you're at in a certain training block is really important. So ⁓ keeping those same habits. I don't really switch anything up. I kind of just eat the same stuff, ⁓ try to go to bed at a reasonable hour. I don't do anything ⁓ super superstitious, guess. ⁓
Nomusa: That's interesting because I feel like most people have very niche things like, ⁓ I have to take a two hour and 15 minute nap and do this and that. I like how you adjust to how you're feeling. Of course, like you said, keeping it consistent, but not holding yourself to superstitions, yes.
Anna Peplowski: Mm-hmm.
Jakayla K: Yeah, so May is mental health awareness month ⁓ and we want get your perspective on how female athletes, especially at your caliber, getting to the Olympics and you know, your experience of getting DQ'd and out touched, ⁓ kind of like touch based on and how you were able to persevere and get through those challenges at such a high stake competition.
Anna Peplowski: think a female swimmer is so rewarding, ⁓ but can also be ⁓ what's the word? Swimming such a merciless sport, I would say. So if you're not at the top in the sport, you're not getting really much recognition for all the hard work you do. And that was pretty much, my whole life up until my ⁓ sophomore, junior year of swimming. Swimming doesn't get much recognition. as a whole, let alone being a female swimmer. like male sports get, this isn't like news, but like male sports get so much more attention and so much more like notoriety and stuff. like being a female athlete is, it's so rewarding, but like it's really challenging at some times when like the males are getting more attention or, you know, males are getting more endorsements or more NIL opportunities. And with swimming, I would say it's kind of what you make of it. So.
Nomusa: Yeah. Yeah.
Anna Peplowski: In terms of like NIL and stuff, it's really, it can be challenging at some times, but like with swimming, it's really like kind of what you make of it and how you're gonna market yourself. And for me, like that was like pretty challenging when I first came into college, just cause like no one really cares about swimming until it's like the Olympics roll around or maybe the NCAA championships. ⁓ But I always remember just trying to make the most of like what I could do for myself and like how I could market myself. And after I made the Olympics, I remember like going crazy on TikTok because people love when you're your authentic self and they love to see like high level athletes doing stuff that works for them and stuff that makes them happy and just being themselves, I would say. So I just remember going crazy on TikTok. Like when I was in the Olympic village, just like. hosting out the wazoo, just stuff that we were doing, because people love to see that stuff. I remember when I was younger, wanting to see that in people, wanting to see their true selves. so being able to be that advocate and that role model and, I guess, liaison in women's swimming is so powerful. And still to this day, any opportunity I get to do swim clinics or anything that can capitalize on my brand and like Marketing myself like I love taking those opportunities just because like I remember when I was younger I had I had a few bad experiences with like some high-level swimmers and like maybe them being like mean or like they didn't want to like do something or like they were like I don't know just like certain situations and I remember being like okay I don't want to be that person like I want to be like this female athlete and this ⁓ role model for young swimmers ⁓ ⁓ That's just kind of like really taken me far like with that mindset and knowing that like swimming doesn't last forever and being able to like market my brand while I can is really important just because like the relevancy of high level swimmers isn't always in like like in date, I guess like obviously like Katie Ledecky and Lilly King and like those high level swimmers will always be relevant. But like it's it's really just like kind of what you make of it at all levels.
Jakayla K: I kind of want to touch base on like you getting DQ'd at the Olympics and getting out touched. Take it to the mental process of how you were able to overcome that and still be able to get second place at the Olympics.
Anna Peplowski: Mm-hmm. Yeah, ⁓ yeah, so I remember, so I was on the prelim relay and they take, so with the six people, they'll take the top four and proceed to the final relay. So at the Olympics, I was on the prelim relay and I remember competing and I didn't swim well in the morning. Like you get to the biggest stage and you're obviously your hopes and dreams are to swim the best you can. And I didn't, I ended up adding from. Olympic trials, adding from my best time. Like it didn't go the way that I wanted it to probably because of all the outside pressures and competing on the world's biggest stage with all the eyes looking at you. And I remember that kind of getting in my head and trying to like learn from that and adapt from that, like for last year's Worlds and for the next upcoming big meets and stuff. But I remember being like pretty upset. Like I went to the locker room when they didn't announce me on the final relay. And I remember being like pretty upset. But I also remember like taking it as like a gratitude thing and remembering that like everything happens for a reason. This is going to build me up for the next opportunities that I'm going to be able to have to compete on the world's biggest stages and be able to learn from what I did and how I'm able to control my emotional energy was really important. So watching them get second, ⁓ honestly, like I was crying tears of joy. Like I just remember being so excited to earn a medal at the Olympics and yeah, we didn't win gold, but that's not to say that like we won't be extremely motivated for it next time. like last summer at Worlds, we got second as well to the Australians. And so we like, we don't have beef with them, but they've out touched us like the last few years for gold. So ⁓ I think this summer we have Panpacs this summer. So like in the Olympic cycle, it goes Olympics, Worlds, Panpacs, Worlds, Olympics. So this year is like a Panpacs year and ⁓ We're also competing against the Australians, but it's on home soil this year. So I'm really hoping that we can pull through with the gold this year and out touch them because we have a really competitive relay as so do they. But I think it's all just about like emotional energy and how you're handling that. And I remember last summer, like remembering Paris two years ago, remembering how I felt and like channeling that like almost like anger that I had. and being able to take it out on that relay and ended up being on the finals relay and competing for Team USA and just being able to be in front of all the big lights at a high level. So definitely controlling emotional energy is most important.
Jakayla K: Absolutely, I did kind of Google you a little bit and yeah, I noticed you have an Olympic ring tattoo. Yeah, do you want to into that story? Yes.
Anna Peplowski: Do it. ⁓ yes. Do you want to see it? Yep. I'll show you. So it's right here. It's on my arm. I remember wanting it on the hand that I like hold my hand over my heart when we do the Star Spangled Banner and stuff. I remember just like wanting it to be on the same side of honoring the flag and our nation and stuff. so I remember after I made the Olympics, I was always like, ⁓ I'm never getting any tattoo unless I make the Olympics. And then I made the Olympics. I was like, ⁓ my gosh, like I get to ⁓
Jakayla K: Mm-hmm.
Nomusa: Is this not working?
Anna Peplowski: Like I want to get this tattoo. And there was a couple of girls on the team that had it in the same spot, like on their arm. And I just remember thinking it was beautiful. Like I was like, I want it to be on my arm. I want it to be on a spot where you can't really see it like in my direct eye, but you like, you can hide it, but you can also like show it if you need to. ⁓ So like I can hide it with like long sleeves and stuff, but.
Jakayla K: Yeah.
Anna Peplowski: Like I remember I didn't want it to like face me because I didn't want to like always be looking at it and always have like the attention on it to be thinking about it the day after I got back from Paris, I went with my dad ⁓ and the guy who did our tattoo was just like so to be able to do his first Olympic rings tattoo. He was just like so, so excited about it. And it made me so excited because it was giving him the opportunity to do something that he has always wanted to do. So. Yeah, just a little like fun story with that and yeah, so.
Jakayla K: That's so cool. And, I'm looking, what's up with those chocolate muffins? Mm-hmm, yeah.
Anna Peplowski: ⁓ my gosh, they're so good. I think about them to this day. Like it's been two years, literally like almost two years and I still think about them to this day. Like I can't even explain it. I don't know what was in it or what it was, but like, wow, so good. So good.
Jakayla K: and then if you have time really quick, what's one like really cool Ashley story that you had in the village?
Anna Peplowski: Ooh, I have a lot actually. Well, okay, so one of my favorites was, I remember going down, so the Team USA building was like right in front of the village. So the best I can describe the village as is like a small town. Each country has their own building and whatever that country slash federation wants to do with the facilities that they have inside that building is up to them. So like some countries didn't have AC, some countries didn't like, There was just like a bunch of stuff that countries did or did not have. And we had a lot of stuff, like fortunately. And so on the bottom floor was like the athlete room where you could, it was like focused on like recovery and there was TVs in there to watch like whatever games were going on or matches or meets or whatever. And I remember wanting to go in there just to like look around. I just wanted to like see what was going on. And Simone Biles was actually in there. And she was sitting by the TV watching rugby. I remember being so nervous. I was like, oh my gosh, this is Simone Biles. Do I say something? And then I remember being like, OK, Anna, you're here too. You made the team. You're at the Olympics. Don't be fangirling over Simone Biles. Like, obviously, I was fangirling. But I remember being like, don't be like, oh, do you want to get a picture? Or just be normal, because she probably just wants you to be normal. like in here because she probably deals with a lot of that stuff like outside of the village. And so I remember just like sitting down and like Norma teching with her watching rugby and we were just like talking about how like cool rugby was and just like talking about like our sports and like all of that kind of stuff. And it was really special to me just because like knowing that like I was at that level with her too and like being in the Olympic Village sitting next to sitting alongside Simone Biles was just like so like touching to me. And so I don't know, I still think about that to this day and like the role models that different people have in different sports and stuff and just being able to sit alongside them and have conversations is really special.
Jakayla K: If you were about to write a book about yourself, what would be the title?
Anna Peplowski: Probably... I'd probably say like... Gosh, that's a good question. I've never been asked that before ⁓ Probably I'd probably keep it simple and just say the life of Anna pep all my college teammates and my friends they all call me Anna pep and It didn't start like getting big until I came to college like no one called me pep in high school ⁓ until I came to college and so like that's just like my nickname that like All my college teammates call me, all my like Team USA teammates call me, and my Olympic teammates, they all just call me Pep or Anna Pep. So I'd probably just say like the life of Anna Pep, keep it simple. But, ⁓ my gosh. So, okay. So BBC, I remember my sophomore year, they reached out to my sister and I, and they were like, we want to do something with like female swimmers, because Sue, the owner at the time, I think, ⁓
Jakayla K: Speaking of pep, how did you come up with the pep words? Mm-hmm.
Anna Peplowski: she's retired now and stuff, but she's awesome. She was like, we want to work with some female swimmers in a sport that doesn't get that much attention. Sisters, what more could you want? They were like, ⁓ we love this. We love this idea. So we started working with them my sophomore year. And as the years went by, I got more involved with Bloomington Bagel and their company and ⁓ their values and their mission and stuff. So ⁓ I sitting down. I think it was my senior year and I was like, think it'd be a great idea if we came up with a bagel like that was called the Pepwich, like a sandwich, like, peplowski, Pepwich, like whatever. We came up with like all these ideas and it was all the stuff that like I love to put on a bagel. So we kind of just like went from there and then like put it on like the exclusive secret menu and all my teammates get it every time they go and they love it. So it's just like really special to see and have.
Nomusa: Yeah, I've had a couple of times. I will say it was pretty good. I'm ⁓ not a person, yeah, I'm not a person that's big on spice. So the banana peppers, I had to take them off. But no, definitely I understand the hype. I understand the hype.
Anna Peplowski: Really? That's fair. Yeah.
Nomusa: ⁓
Anna Peplowski: Yeah, a lot of people will get it without like the banana peppers and the jalapenos. It's actually like really good without those. I've gotten that a few times or on like a every seed bagel. Like the jalapeno bagel is pretty good, but I tried it on an every seed bagel one time and I was like, wow, I should have done this. But I mix it up every now and then.
Nomusa: I'm sorry.
Anna Peplowski: this has been such a foundational year for me just because it's my first year as a professional swimmer ⁓ and I'm not in college swimming anymore. don't get to go to the dual meets ⁓ and NCAAs and Big ⁓ 10s and all that fun stuff came with swimming that made me most successful ⁓ and helped me reach the point where I am today. And so I think this year has been like such a turning point for me and in terms of like trying to figure myself out more outside of the student athlete that I used to be while I was still in school. And so I think like taking it like one practice at a time, one week at a time, one meet at a time is really important. And I just learned so much this year about like discovering a new routine and what that's gonna look like for the next two years in hopes to make LA 2028 and being able to focus like. on myself more and like recovery and prioritizing nutrition, sleep, all of those factors that I couldn't really do fully in college just because I was taking a full course load and still in classes and being a student athlete. But now that I'm not in classes anymore and swimming is my job right now, like just being able to focus on how I'm gonna be able to be the best swimmer I can in hopes to make the LA 2028 Olympics and really just taking it like.
Jakayla K: There
Anna Peplowski: one training block at a time is most important for me because if I start thinking like big picture, like, oh, I want to be a world record holder in the 800 freestyle relay or the 200 freestyle at the Olympics, like I can't think about that kind of stuff. Like I really just have to take it one, one practice at a time and really just like trying to live in the moment instead of like thinking about outcomes because it's going to go by super quick. It's going to go by in the blink of an eye. Like my college career went by so fast. I remember walking in freshman year being like, ⁓ this is going to go fast. And now I'm already a year removed from college. just like really taking it all in and being able to like grasp the opportunities that are presented to me as they come and being able to enjoy that as I go.
Jakayla K: Bye.
Nomusa: Definitely. we wish you the best for sure. You've achieved a lot so far at such an early age.
Jakayla K: Absolutely.
Anna Peplowski: Thank you. Yeah, think it's so exciting. I think the rise in NIL has been so important for athletes, but more importantly for female athletes just because we can market on the things that ⁓ we for or we believe in or even if it's like nutrition brands or like I did something in the fall with drip drops. So being able to work with an electrolyte brand that stands for the same things that I do as an athlete. Like I think that's so important and
Jakayla K: you
Anna Peplowski: I think as the future goes with sports, female sports are slowly starting to get more attention here and there. We saw with Caitlin Clark, she brought such a huge attention to women's basketball and the WNBA and being able to see what she's done for the sport.
Jakayla K: ⁓ like what
Anna Peplowski: like what kind of powerful stuff that they hold in their sports is super important. as I get older through the sport too, like I hope that swimming gets more attention in terms of streaming opportunities ⁓ and like more NIL opportunities ⁓ because swimming can always use a little bit more of that compared to other sports, but. Yeah, think female sports, like everything is definitely on the rise. It could be a little bit better, but hoping as, as you know, time progresses, female sports can get a little bit more here and there. So.
Nomusa: For sure. think especially as, like you said, you're like an individual athlete. So you have the opportunity to just market your name by yourself and build upon it.
Anna Peplowski: Mm-hmm. For sure. For sure. Yep.
Nomusa: Yes. Well, thank you so much, Anna, for letting us talk to you and get to know a little bit more,
Anna Peplowski: Of course, yes.
Jakayla K: Thank you,
Nomusa: Yeah, kind of adding on to that, what would you say was your process and path towards going to the Olympics in Paris 2024? Of course, you won the silver medal, so kind of just that whole journey. You know, something that I find super interesting is I kind of like to think we grew up in like the peak time of swimming during the 2010s with Lilly King, Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, and for you to now be in the role where you're, you know, their peers, you are practicing alongside Katie Ledecky and stuff. How was that? In our sports athlete mental health class, actually talked a lot about different pre-routine tips to ⁓ help the nerves and ⁓ initial feelings when you're going up for a competition. ⁓ So how you say you handle that? And what kind of personal things do you do to prepare for a big moment like the Olympics? As we've talked about, you've accomplished so much already at such a young age. So what do you see long-term and in the future for your career? ⁓ what you say are your goals right now for ⁓ your career in athletics?
Jakayla K: Hello, welcome to the Unit3d Podcast. My name is Jakayla
Nomusa: to wrap up, ⁓ we wanted ask what do you see the future of women's in general ⁓ looking like, especially with the of NIL like we talked about and ⁓ just ⁓ as you see a lot of female athletes are ⁓ utilizing their name and brand for like modeling careers and just different ⁓ avenues outside of athletics. ⁓ So do you kind of the entire future of ⁓
Nina Winsick: Stop!
Madeline: Hi everyone, welcome back to United podcast. My name is Madeline Koch and I'm excited to be here with you for our final episode of the season. As a host, current PhD student at Indiana University and someone who teaches undergraduate courses on student athlete mental health, our conversations have been near and dear to my heart. We wanted to end this season on a high note and give it back to some of the kids in that course. So we launched a competition inviting students to create and pitch their own episode ideas centered on student athlete mental health.
Nomusa: and my name is Nomusa
Jakayla K: And we are students in G207's Sport Athlete Mental Health here at IU Bloomington episode is going be very exciting because today we have none other than Anna Peplowski
Nomusa: Anna Peplowski is an Olympic silver medalist swimmer. She is a standout athlete at IU as well, also as an NCAA American. is known for her strong performances in freestyle events and relays. While many people focus on the physical side of swimming, we to center our conversation with her on the psychological side.
Madeline: my gosh, Namusa what are you doing? You're making the podcast. eating my pep witch. Bro, what are you doing? You know Anna Peplowski has the best bagel at Blooming Ton Bagels. my gosh, come on bro, we have to go make the podcast. The responses were incredible. Students really came together and showed up to put together some thoughtful and creative ideas. Today's episode is brought to you by the winners of that competition. We're proud to highlight two students who stood out. Please join me in welcoming and congratulating our winners, Nomusa and Jakayla Take it away, ladies.
Nomusa: women's athletics going.
Jakayla K: In this episode, we will be exploring how athletes bounce back from setbacks, stay motivated over time, and preparing for other big moments.
Nomusa: These topics are especially important for athletes in individual sports like swimming. We will also discuss her feelings and strides on the future of women's sports and also some personal topics which we wanted to ask her about. all So ⁓ for context, we were in a sports mental health class and we were allowed to do a sports psych podcast idea. we made a little podcast ⁓ snippet and we won the podcast competition. So now we have the opportunity, to interview you.
Anna Peplowski: That's so fun. ⁓ my gosh. Yeah, that sounds like a fun class.
Nomusa: yeah for sure So they start off all the episodes with a little snippet of coach and it's the video where he says ⁓ Google me. I would just say like what was the originally? ⁓
Anna Peplowski: Ooh. Yeah, he says or like I win Google me something
Jakayla K: Yeah, I went Google me.
Nomusa: Yeah, So first question today is to ask you if people were to Google you, what would they find?
Anna Peplowski: Honestly, probably just a lot of like swimming related stuff. I've done a lot of stuff like in my hometown, I would say. So I think there ⁓ probably be some stuff like relating to ⁓ park pool in my hometown. ⁓ Just to try to keep that pool open, like doing fundraisers and stuff, ⁓ trying do like good stuff for the community. But Probably all swimming related stuff, stuff from the Olympics, stuff from Indiana University swimming, college swimming. Yeah, that's probably it. It's kind of my whole persona right now in life is swimming.
Nomusa: haha I mean, I definitely
Jakayla K: Okay. Yeah, what are some of the different experiences swimming from here in Indiana and IU to swimming there in Illinois?
Nomusa: Okay.
Anna Peplowski: Growing up in central Illinois, the swim community out there is very small. So I didn't have a pool in my high school. Whereas in Indiana, every single high school here has either a 25 yard pool or a full size Olympic pool. So swimming in Indiana is completely different than swimming in central Illinois just because we didn't have those facilities readily accessible to us. And committing to IU and Swimming at Indiana, like everything is within like five minutes of where I live, which is so convenient. Whereas when I was swimming on club, like I had to swim or I had to train 45 minutes away with like a high level club team just to be able to be recruited in college. yeah, there's 180 degree difference between Illinois and Indiana, I would say, but Indiana swimming is a lot better than Illinois. But overall, mean, like growing up and stuff, like we have a short course like. 25 meter pool that was outside and we'd swim in the summer. So it was just like a really good like foundational base for me to have fun while I was young before it got like really competitive. So.
Jakayla K: That's great. And what made you choose Indiana to come compete in Swingin'?
Nomusa: For sure, I will say...
Anna Peplowski: So I started ⁓ getting recruited junior year of high school and my older sister swam at Indiana University. She was ⁓ four years than me. ⁓ So she a senior when I was a freshman and I tried not to have like our relationship interfere with like my recruiting process just because I was looking at some other schools and taking other visits because ⁓ I didn't to quote follow her. ⁓ I she was a huge influence in me coming to Indiana just because like I love all my siblings so much. And so my recruiting process went through all of all of it was really great, committed to Indiana. And yeah, it was just the best experience, like being able to swim with my sister for two years because she took her fifth year at IU. So we had two years together and yeah, we had like completely different experiences, but we got to like share so many great memories together, which is great. So.
Jakayla K: That's great. ⁓ exactly. ⁓ What would you say some of the challenges are from ⁓ high school swimming to collegiate swimming and Olympics if you want to get into that as well?
Anna Peplowski: This is it. Mm-hmm. I would say, ⁓ once again, we have a high school, or we didn't have a pool in our high school. So ⁓ high school season really different compared to all the schools in Chicago. ⁓ When we would to the state championships, it was always like Chicago versus downstate. ⁓ And like all schools downstate, like if you had a pool, like it'd be lucky if you even made it to state. So for my team to be making it to state was like crazy. And like ⁓ when me and sister were swimming together in high school, like it would be like, ⁓ my gosh, those downstate swimmers, like they don't even have pools in their high school. Like how are they making it to state? And we just kind of like capitalized on that like opportunity, like, okay, yeah, we're doing this and we don't even have a pool in our high school. And the opportunity that we get to be up at state with all of these schools that have like Olympic sized pools in their high schools, like how lucky are we to be doing this? So that kind of just like was really eye-opening for both of us in high school that like, okay, maybe we could be really good. And so she committed to swim at Indiana and I kind of like started taking off in my swimming career with like club swimming and I had to make a lot of sacrifices in high school. Like I couldn't go to like Friday night football games or like I even missed out on like a prom or a homecoming because I had a state championship meet like for club. So just like different like sacrifices that I had to make in club swimming ⁓ to ultimately get me to IU. But those challenges like They helped me to be like who I am today, I would say. So all of like the time management skills that I had to, you know, adopt traveling an hour and a half to and from club practice every day, having my club team 45 minutes away wasn't easy. So I had to like take up different like time management skills of when to do my homework and you know, when to hang out with friends and when to hang out with my family and stuff. So. Those skills helped me become a better athlete at Indiana. And the challenges that are here are nowhere compared to the challenges that I had to make in high school, I would say. The challenges here are more so competitive challenges. Like, OK, you want to make it on this international stage. You're going to have to do this, this, and this. Not having to worry about commuting 45 minutes to club practice and then 45 minutes home. So they're just different challenges. But I would say the challenges here at Indiana are like, way more like they're easier to like handle, I would say, if that makes sense.
Nomusa: Yeah, for sure. speaking of family, do you think that if it wasn't for all your siblings all being swimmers in that community, do you think you would have had persevered hard enough to go to the collegiate level?
Jakayla K: Absolutely, yes.
Anna Peplowski: Honestly, like, no. My sister, she pushed me so hard when we had one year on club swimming together. And I would not be where I am today without her either. She's a coach at Indiana right now. So she swam her five years. And then she actually got one of the coaching positions for our team. So I've been with her for, I don't even know, eight years at this point, swimming. And I just wouldn't see myself anywhere.
Nomusa: haha
Anna Peplowski: like without her and like my parents too like there was so many mornings where they were waking up at like 5 a.m to bring me to practice before high school like or before like middle school like they were always doing the most for me which is like i'm just so thankful for that and like all the the sacrifices they made to get me where i am today
Jakayla K: That's so cute,
Nomusa: For sure.
Anna Peplowski: so basically, like the way that I made the team was a little bit different. So in my event, six people qualify and depending on roster sizes, like they automatically take the top four in the 200 freestyle for the 800 freestyle relay, ⁓ but fifth and place don't get like formally announced to the team until the last day because of roster sizes. ⁓ So sixth place is like the last priority that they'll take. And then fifth place is like the second to last priority. And I was fifth. ⁓ But luckily for USA Swimming, we have so many girls that do double events like Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglas. Like those girls are making it in like two, three, four events. So the roster size was automatically already smaller. So. The day that I got announced, I knew if I was gonna get fifth or sixth, I was going to make the team just because of those girls making it in those double events. But my race was the third day of trials and it was a nine day meet. So I had to formally wait until the last day to get announced to the team. Which I knew I was already gonna go, but the public didn't really know necessarily.
Nomusa: Wow.
Jakayla K: Mm-hmm.
Anna Peplowski: So I had to wait and it was just like the anticipation was just building because I just wanted it to get announced and like for people to know like it was just like six days of just so many high emotions but also like, okay, I just want this like stress to be over. ⁓ But yeah, so they did like a huge like make the team or like made the team like announcement and we all got lifted onto this like elevator that like went up into Lucas Oil Stadium that like everyone could see which was really cool. And then
Nomusa: Yeah
Anna Peplowski: That day we got to do like fitting and stuff so we got to do like fitting for our Nike gear and our Ralph Lauren gear and our skims gear which was really fun But just like getting like introduced to the team was like so like I remember like everything about it It was just so much fun and like all the other girls were just so excited about it, too So yeah, it was really special
Jakayla K: That's pretty hard.
Anna Peplowski: I still think about that to this day, like last summer at Worlds, we were on the final relay together and we set a new American record together. And it's just like so crazy that like when I was growing up, watching her swim at the 2012, 2016 Olympics, always being like so inspired, like I want to do that. I want to be on that stage. And then to actually do it and like fulfill my childhood dreams of being a part of like Just like a relay alongside Katie Ledecky and like having her be a mentor for me is so special.
Nomusa: For sure, for sure. So as you're on these big stages with some of the best swimmers, including yourself in the world, how do you think you prepare for these moments? considering like, you're saying those six days, you're kind of just waiting anxiously. Like, were there any things you kind of did to handle that pressure and maintain your composure?
Anna Peplowski: So at the meet itself, I was actually going crazy. ⁓ talk about this often with my other Olympic teammates. My roommate in the village was Alex Shackle. So she's actually swimming at Indiana University now. ⁓ we talk about it often, just our shared experiences that we have together. ⁓ we both made the team in the same relay, but ⁓ both have totally different experiences with ⁓ we were feeling and the emotions we were having. ⁓
Nomusa: Yeah
Anna Peplowski: I would say something that's always helped me stay chill and composed out of me is knowing that I've put more hard work in practice than the race itself. So we're doing 6,000 yard practices every single practice and then knowing that my race is only a 200 and all the hard stuff that I did in that 6,000 yard practice is gonna help me for that 200. I think that's something that's also helped me so much. And alongside like, putting myself in the shoes at practice of like, pretending the big lights are there, pretending there's thousands of people watching, like putting myself in that high pressure situation has helped me a lot too, just like be able to practice, like putting myself in those shoes and like focusing on my mental health, like in that moment. But I mean, like at the meet itself, like ⁓ Lilly King and I were like the day before or. The morning of the night that we both made the team, we were making bracelets together, just like the charm bracelets, watching Shrek, and we didn't speak to each other for like three hours. We were just grinding bracelets, because we were just so nervous and just so in our heads about everything. And so we were just grinding, making bracelets, watching Shrek for so long and just not speaking to each other, because we were both so nervous. I think like everyone's experience is a little bit different, but I think like every day of that nine day meet, it literally felt like the Hunger Games. Like if you didn't make the team, it was the end of the world. Like getting third place for some people is like devastating because like you work your whole life towards a dream and for it to not work out and then like you're you get first and you're on top of the world or second or in my case, fifth or sixth in the top in the 800 or the the 200 freestyle.
Nomusa: Okay.
Anna Peplowski: And so everyone's experience is different, but mine is definitely all over the place for sure. But.
Nomusa: Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, it sounded a bit chaotic. But I think something that you brought up that is something that you brought up that it's pretty interesting is the visualization, like how you said, you sit there and kind of imagine the big lights and stuff. our sports athlete mental health class, we watched a video on Conor McGregor and he ⁓ described the same that before,
Anna Peplowski: Hahaha Mm-hmm. Mm.
Nomusa: He goes into any match, he's not really nervous, because like you were saying, he practiced for that moment, but also he's seen that moment in his mind a thousand times. So definitely think anyone can use in whatever ⁓ part of life that they may really stressed about,
Anna Peplowski: Yeah, and I think it's a skill that is very hard for people to learn, but once you learn it, you can use it in your favor with literally anything. Like envisioning like what a pool looks like by looking at pictures online, putting yourself in the situation of being at that pool and being present and knowing that like you're going to be competing there is like so powerful. Routine, yeah, I usually just keep it really simple. I ⁓ try to do anything out of the ordinary of what I usually do for practices and stuff, just because I think consistency with training ⁓ ⁓ you're at in a certain training block is really important. So ⁓ keeping those same habits. I don't really switch anything up. I kind of just eat the same stuff, ⁓ try to go to bed at a reasonable hour. I don't do anything ⁓ super superstitious, guess. ⁓
Nomusa: That's interesting because I feel like most people have very niche things like, ⁓ I have to take a two hour and 15 minute nap and do this and that. I like how you adjust to how you're feeling. Of course, like you said, keeping it consistent, but not holding yourself to superstitions, yes.
Anna Peplowski: Mm-hmm.
Jakayla K: Yeah, so May is mental health awareness month ⁓ and we want get your perspective on how female athletes, especially at your caliber, getting to the Olympics and you know, your experience of getting DQ'd and out touched, ⁓ kind of like touch based on and how you were able to persevere and get through those challenges at such a high stake competition.
Anna Peplowski: think a female swimmer is so rewarding, ⁓ but can also be ⁓ what's the word? Swimming such a merciless sport, I would say. So if you're not at the top in the sport, you're not getting really much recognition for all the hard work you do. And that was pretty much, my whole life up until my ⁓ sophomore, junior year of swimming. Swimming doesn't get much recognition. as a whole, let alone being a female swimmer. like male sports get, this isn't like news, but like male sports get so much more attention and so much more like notoriety and stuff. like being a female athlete is, it's so rewarding, but like it's really challenging at some times when like the males are getting more attention or, you know, males are getting more endorsements or more NIL opportunities. And with swimming, I would say it's kind of what you make of it. So.
Nomusa: Yeah. Yeah.
Anna Peplowski: In terms of like NIL and stuff, it's really, it can be challenging at some times, but like with swimming, it's really like kind of what you make of it and how you're gonna market yourself. And for me, like that was like pretty challenging when I first came into college, just cause like no one really cares about swimming until it's like the Olympics roll around or maybe the NCAA championships. ⁓ But I always remember just trying to make the most of like what I could do for myself and like how I could market myself. And after I made the Olympics, I remember like going crazy on TikTok because people love when you're your authentic self and they love to see like high level athletes doing stuff that works for them and stuff that makes them happy and just being themselves, I would say. So I just remember going crazy on TikTok. Like when I was in the Olympic village, just like. hosting out the wazoo, just stuff that we were doing, because people love to see that stuff. I remember when I was younger, wanting to see that in people, wanting to see their true selves. so being able to be that advocate and that role model and, I guess, liaison in women's swimming is so powerful. And still to this day, any opportunity I get to do swim clinics or anything that can capitalize on my brand and like Marketing myself like I love taking those opportunities just because like I remember when I was younger I had I had a few bad experiences with like some high-level swimmers and like maybe them being like mean or like they didn't want to like do something or like they were like I don't know just like certain situations and I remember being like okay I don't want to be that person like I want to be like this female athlete and this ⁓ role model for young swimmers ⁓ ⁓ That's just kind of like really taken me far like with that mindset and knowing that like swimming doesn't last forever and being able to like market my brand while I can is really important just because like the relevancy of high level swimmers isn't always in like like in date, I guess like obviously like Katie Ledecky and Lilly King and like those high level swimmers will always be relevant. But like it's it's really just like kind of what you make of it at all levels.
Jakayla K: I kind of want to touch base on like you getting DQ'd at the Olympics and getting out touched. Take it to the mental process of how you were able to overcome that and still be able to get second place at the Olympics.
Anna Peplowski: Mm-hmm. Yeah, ⁓ yeah, so I remember, so I was on the prelim relay and they take, so with the six people, they'll take the top four and proceed to the final relay. So at the Olympics, I was on the prelim relay and I remember competing and I didn't swim well in the morning. Like you get to the biggest stage and you're obviously your hopes and dreams are to swim the best you can. And I didn't, I ended up adding from. Olympic trials, adding from my best time. Like it didn't go the way that I wanted it to probably because of all the outside pressures and competing on the world's biggest stage with all the eyes looking at you. And I remember that kind of getting in my head and trying to like learn from that and adapt from that, like for last year's Worlds and for the next upcoming big meets and stuff. But I remember being like pretty upset. Like I went to the locker room when they didn't announce me on the final relay. And I remember being like pretty upset. But I also remember like taking it as like a gratitude thing and remembering that like everything happens for a reason. This is going to build me up for the next opportunities that I'm going to be able to have to compete on the world's biggest stages and be able to learn from what I did and how I'm able to control my emotional energy was really important. So watching them get second, ⁓ honestly, like I was crying tears of joy. Like I just remember being so excited to earn a medal at the Olympics and yeah, we didn't win gold, but that's not to say that like we won't be extremely motivated for it next time. like last summer at Worlds, we got second as well to the Australians. And so we like, we don't have beef with them, but they've out touched us like the last few years for gold. So ⁓ I think this summer we have Panpacs this summer. So like in the Olympic cycle, it goes Olympics, Worlds, Panpacs, Worlds, Olympics. So this year is like a Panpacs year and ⁓ We're also competing against the Australians, but it's on home soil this year. So I'm really hoping that we can pull through with the gold this year and out touch them because we have a really competitive relay as so do they. But I think it's all just about like emotional energy and how you're handling that. And I remember last summer, like remembering Paris two years ago, remembering how I felt and like channeling that like almost like anger that I had. and being able to take it out on that relay and ended up being on the finals relay and competing for Team USA and just being able to be in front of all the big lights at a high level. So definitely controlling emotional energy is most important.
Jakayla K: Absolutely, I did kind of Google you a little bit and yeah, I noticed you have an Olympic ring tattoo. Yeah, do you want to into that story? Yes.
Anna Peplowski: Do it. ⁓ yes. Do you want to see it? Yep. I'll show you. So it's right here. It's on my arm. I remember wanting it on the hand that I like hold my hand over my heart when we do the Star Spangled Banner and stuff. I remember just like wanting it to be on the same side of honoring the flag and our nation and stuff. so I remember after I made the Olympics, I was always like, ⁓ I'm never getting any tattoo unless I make the Olympics. And then I made the Olympics. I was like, ⁓ my gosh, like I get to ⁓
Jakayla K: Mm-hmm.
Nomusa: Is this not working?
Anna Peplowski: Like I want to get this tattoo. And there was a couple of girls on the team that had it in the same spot, like on their arm. And I just remember thinking it was beautiful. Like I was like, I want it to be on my arm. I want it to be on a spot where you can't really see it like in my direct eye, but you like, you can hide it, but you can also like show it if you need to. ⁓ So like I can hide it with like long sleeves and stuff, but.
Jakayla K: Yeah.
Anna Peplowski: Like I remember I didn't want it to like face me because I didn't want to like always be looking at it and always have like the attention on it to be thinking about it the day after I got back from Paris, I went with my dad ⁓ and the guy who did our tattoo was just like so to be able to do his first Olympic rings tattoo. He was just like so, so excited about it. And it made me so excited because it was giving him the opportunity to do something that he has always wanted to do. So. Yeah, just a little like fun story with that and yeah, so.
Jakayla K: That's so cool. And, I'm looking, what's up with those chocolate muffins? Mm-hmm, yeah.
Anna Peplowski: ⁓ my gosh, they're so good. I think about them to this day. Like it's been two years, literally like almost two years and I still think about them to this day. Like I can't even explain it. I don't know what was in it or what it was, but like, wow, so good. So good.
Jakayla K: and then if you have time really quick, what's one like really cool Ashley story that you had in the village?
Anna Peplowski: Ooh, I have a lot actually. Well, okay, so one of my favorites was, I remember going down, so the Team USA building was like right in front of the village. So the best I can describe the village as is like a small town. Each country has their own building and whatever that country slash federation wants to do with the facilities that they have inside that building is up to them. So like some countries didn't have AC, some countries didn't like, There was just like a bunch of stuff that countries did or did not have. And we had a lot of stuff, like fortunately. And so on the bottom floor was like the athlete room where you could, it was like focused on like recovery and there was TVs in there to watch like whatever games were going on or matches or meets or whatever. And I remember wanting to go in there just to like look around. I just wanted to like see what was going on. And Simone Biles was actually in there. And she was sitting by the TV watching rugby. I remember being so nervous. I was like, oh my gosh, this is Simone Biles. Do I say something? And then I remember being like, OK, Anna, you're here too. You made the team. You're at the Olympics. Don't be fangirling over Simone Biles. Like, obviously, I was fangirling. But I remember being like, don't be like, oh, do you want to get a picture? Or just be normal, because she probably just wants you to be normal. like in here because she probably deals with a lot of that stuff like outside of the village. And so I remember just like sitting down and like Norma teching with her watching rugby and we were just like talking about how like cool rugby was and just like talking about like our sports and like all of that kind of stuff. And it was really special to me just because like knowing that like I was at that level with her too and like being in the Olympic Village sitting next to sitting alongside Simone Biles was just like so like touching to me. And so I don't know, I still think about that to this day and like the role models that different people have in different sports and stuff and just being able to sit alongside them and have conversations is really special.
Jakayla K: If you were about to write a book about yourself, what would be the title?
Anna Peplowski: Probably... I'd probably say like... Gosh, that's a good question. I've never been asked that before ⁓ Probably I'd probably keep it simple and just say the life of Anna pep all my college teammates and my friends they all call me Anna pep and It didn't start like getting big until I came to college like no one called me pep in high school ⁓ until I came to college and so like that's just like my nickname that like All my college teammates call me, all my like Team USA teammates call me, and my Olympic teammates, they all just call me Pep or Anna Pep. So I'd probably just say like the life of Anna Pep, keep it simple. But, ⁓ my gosh. So, okay. So BBC, I remember my sophomore year, they reached out to my sister and I, and they were like, we want to do something with like female swimmers, because Sue, the owner at the time, I think, ⁓
Jakayla K: Speaking of pep, how did you come up with the pep words? Mm-hmm.
Anna Peplowski: she's retired now and stuff, but she's awesome. She was like, we want to work with some female swimmers in a sport that doesn't get that much attention. Sisters, what more could you want? They were like, ⁓ we love this. We love this idea. So we started working with them my sophomore year. And as the years went by, I got more involved with Bloomington Bagel and their company and ⁓ their values and their mission and stuff. So ⁓ I sitting down. I think it was my senior year and I was like, think it'd be a great idea if we came up with a bagel like that was called the Pepwich, like a sandwich, like, peplowski, Pepwich, like whatever. We came up with like all these ideas and it was all the stuff that like I love to put on a bagel. So we kind of just like went from there and then like put it on like the exclusive secret menu and all my teammates get it every time they go and they love it. So it's just like really special to see and have.
Nomusa: Yeah, I've had a couple of times. I will say it was pretty good. I'm ⁓ not a person, yeah, I'm not a person that's big on spice. So the banana peppers, I had to take them off. But no, definitely I understand the hype. I understand the hype.
Anna Peplowski: Really? That's fair. Yeah.
Nomusa: ⁓
Anna Peplowski: Yeah, a lot of people will get it without like the banana peppers and the jalapenos. It's actually like really good without those. I've gotten that a few times or on like a every seed bagel. Like the jalapeno bagel is pretty good, but I tried it on an every seed bagel one time and I was like, wow, I should have done this. But I mix it up every now and then.
Nomusa: I'm sorry.
Anna Peplowski: this has been such a foundational year for me just because it's my first year as a professional swimmer ⁓ and I'm not in college swimming anymore. don't get to go to the dual meets ⁓ and NCAAs and Big ⁓ 10s and all that fun stuff came with swimming that made me most successful ⁓ and helped me reach the point where I am today. And so I think this year has been like such a turning point for me and in terms of like trying to figure myself out more outside of the student athlete that I used to be while I was still in school. And so I think like taking it like one practice at a time, one week at a time, one meet at a time is really important. And I just learned so much this year about like discovering a new routine and what that's gonna look like for the next two years in hopes to make LA 2028 and being able to focus like. on myself more and like recovery and prioritizing nutrition, sleep, all of those factors that I couldn't really do fully in college just because I was taking a full course load and still in classes and being a student athlete. But now that I'm not in classes anymore and swimming is my job right now, like just being able to focus on how I'm gonna be able to be the best swimmer I can in hopes to make the LA 2028 Olympics and really just taking it like.
Jakayla K: There
Anna Peplowski: one training block at a time is most important for me because if I start thinking like big picture, like, oh, I want to be a world record holder in the 800 freestyle relay or the 200 freestyle at the Olympics, like I can't think about that kind of stuff. Like I really just have to take it one, one practice at a time and really just like trying to live in the moment instead of like thinking about outcomes because it's going to go by super quick. It's going to go by in the blink of an eye. Like my college career went by so fast. I remember walking in freshman year being like, ⁓ this is going to go fast. And now I'm already a year removed from college. just like really taking it all in and being able to like grasp the opportunities that are presented to me as they come and being able to enjoy that as I go.
Jakayla K: Bye.
Nomusa: Definitely. we wish you the best for sure. You've achieved a lot so far at such an early age.
Jakayla K: Absolutely.
Anna Peplowski: Thank you. Yeah, think it's so exciting. I think the rise in NIL has been so important for athletes, but more importantly for female athletes just because we can market on the things that ⁓ we for or we believe in or even if it's like nutrition brands or like I did something in the fall with drip drops. So being able to work with an electrolyte brand that stands for the same things that I do as an athlete. Like I think that's so important and
Jakayla K: you
Anna Peplowski: I think as the future goes with sports, female sports are slowly starting to get more attention here and there. We saw with Caitlin Clark, she brought such a huge attention to women's basketball and the WNBA and being able to see what she's done for the sport.
Jakayla K: ⁓ like what
Anna Peplowski: like what kind of powerful stuff that they hold in their sports is super important. as I get older through the sport too, like I hope that swimming gets more attention in terms of streaming opportunities ⁓ and like more NIL opportunities ⁓ because swimming can always use a little bit more of that compared to other sports, but. Yeah, think female sports, like everything is definitely on the rise. It could be a little bit better, but hoping as, as you know, time progresses, female sports can get a little bit more here and there. So.
Nomusa: For sure. think especially as, like you said, you're like an individual athlete. So you have the opportunity to just market your name by yourself and build upon it.
Anna Peplowski: Mm-hmm. For sure. For sure. Yep.
Nomusa: Yes. Well, thank you so much, Anna, for letting us talk to you and get to know a little bit more,
Anna Peplowski: Of course, yes.
Jakayla K: Thank you,
