Allison Schmitt, the Canton Olympian in Rio de Janeiro for her third Summer Olympics, says she is taking it all in.
"It's been a fun journey to get here. There have definitely been ups and downs but it's gotten me to where I am today," Schmitt said. "I'm ready to go back and represent the US and hopefully bring back some medals again for the US."
Since the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Schmitt has opened up about her struggle with depression.
She kept quiet for some time, then in January 2015 opened up to her good friend and teammate Michael Phelps and two of her coaches, Bob Bowman and Keenan Robinson. She started seeing a psychologist regularly and focused on making the Olympic team.
"Being on cloud nine is a feeling that you can't put into words. Being at the bottom is a feeling you don't want to put into words, but both of those feelings everybody goes through," Allison said. "There is ups and downs in everybody's lives and all you can do is move forward. You can learn from the successes, you can learn from the failures."
Schmitt's parents, Ralph and Gail, and her siblings Kirsten, Derek, Kari and Sara will be in Rio de Janeiro to watch her compete. Family is very important to Schmitt and her family is very proud of her accomplishments.
"The journey was long and hard and there were hurdles and there was times where we didn't even know if she would be competing at this level at this time of the. for the Olympics but she fought through it," Ralph Schmitt said.
"It's great to be an Olympian but that just gives her a base in order for more people to hear how they shouldn't feel that they're alone and they shouldn't feel that they should ask for help so I just think it's phenomenal," Gail Schmitt said.
Schmitt will compete in the women's 800m freestyle relay and the 400m freestyle relay.
In London in 2012, she won three gold medals for the 200m freestyle, 800m freestyle relay and 400m medley relay, a silver in the 400m freestyle and a bronze in the 400m freestyle relay. During the 2008 games in Beijing China she won bronze in the 800m freestyle relay. She is hoping to end up back on the podium again in Rio.
Her goal in Rio:
"To do my best. There's not more you can ask than to do your best and to enjoy every moment of it," Schmitt said. "I'm an older one now so just being able to have that experience and take the little things in. To open your eyes, take a deep breath, and realize that this doesn't happen too often."
Schmitt was also elected a team captain, chosen by members of the Olympic swim team.
Her family thinks that is a great honor for her.
"I think as an individual and as a swimmer she has gone through phases of maturity and now she's a leader," Ralph Schmitt said. "I think people recognize her as a leader and a go-to person and I think that's important to her."
Schmitt is candid about dealing with depression. She said she has learned so much about herself from her ups and downs:
"To open up about it and to be vulnerable. I think I'm able to express myself more and it has helped me swim more free, be more myself. I'm not hiding anything anymore, I'm able to express my feelings, angry, sad, happy and I think that helps me. I think it helps me be more free," Schmitt said.
The Schmitt family says there is no way they would skip being at the Olympics to see her compete.
"I wouldn't consider not going," Gail Schmitt said.
Both Gail and Ralph get emotional when speaking about family and how important it is to be there for Allison during the Olympics.
"You start as a family, you grow up as one and you go through the good and the bad and there's some up and downs but it's well worth it," Ralph Schmitt said.
"They were all in London and now they're all coming to Rio. To have that support and to be able to look up in the stands and see them cheering. It's, it's a feeling, I'm tearing up now ... the support has just been tremendous and I have so much love for my family," Schmitt said.
While Schmitt is focused on competing in the Olympics, she has a bright future ahead out of the pool. She plans to pursue a career in psychology once she is finished with swimming.
"The Olympics will be secondary for her life's work to try and help other people who stubble with depression and especially young athletes. I think Allison would really love to work with them and that's what she plans to do," Ralph Schmitt said.
Allison Schmitt is one of the athletes Local 4 is following during the Summer Olympics. Stay tuned to Local 4 & ClickOnDetroit.com for the latest updates.