Triangle-based Olympic swimmer finds new balance while embarking on motherhood journey

By Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporter

Cary, N.C. — Ashley Twichell describes the water as her happy place. That’s why despite previously planning to retire, she’s once again training for the Olympic Trials.

“If you had asked me before the Tokyo Olympics, it was like a 99.9% done,” she told WRAL.

The then 32-year-old swam the 10-kilometer during the Tokyo Olympics – taking home seventh place. At the time, she was the oldest swimmer to make her Olympic debut after three previous attempts. She will be 35 during the Paris Olympic Games.

During her career, she’s pushed through situations that might have otherwise been the end of it, including a recurring shoulder injury and the COVID pandemic.

Twichell lives in the Triangle and is training at Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. She attended Duke University.

Twichell has since had a son, Lochlan, with her husband Derek Wall.

“After I had my son in May 2022, I still didn't really know what the plan was. I slowly got back in the water and really, took it day by day,” she said.

Over the course of several months, Twichell said she would casually swim – a welcome distraction from pregnancy symptoms and a source of alone time once her son was born.

“I stayed in the water throughout my pregnancy - not really training but just to stay in it,” she recalled. “I went to my first race in February in South Africa and actually surprised myself by how well I did. I thought, 'Ok, I'm going to give this a go.’”

As she prepares for her fifth Olympic Trials, Twichell said her approach to training is a lot different, with a much stronger emphasis on balance.

“Instead of being in the water 20 hours a week, I'm in the water, probably, 14 hours a week,” she said. “I do my dry land at home, instead of at the gym. I do my second work out during his nap at home.”

Along her motherhood journey, she said she’s learned lessons for herself.

“Now, more than ever, I know that how I do in a race doesn't define anything, really,” Twichell said. “Regardless of what [Lochlan] chooses to do in life...as long as he's trying his hardest, I'll be proud of him. I try to give myself that grace, too.”

Twichell said she hasn’t fully decided when she’ll retire completely, but she said this summer will likely be her last time swimming competitively.

“Giving everything I have looks different than it did before having a kid,” she said. “To me, that regret of not knowing what would've happened is worse than, maybe, falling short of your goal.”

She said she’s excited to share her experiences in the water with her son, even if he won’t necessarily remember them.

“He won’t be able to remember it, but to be able to show him pictures and have him experience that and see his mom compete, I think, will be really special,” Twichell said.