Olympic swimmer Twichell's new challenge: Motherhood

After making her Olympic debut in Tokyo last summer, swimmer Ashley Twichell of Cary is embarking on another test of endurance: Motherhood! Her first child is due in May.

"We're having a boy," she said. "My husband could not wait to find out, so we found out as early as possible."

Twichell's husband, Derek Wall, got the news in October, less than three months after his wife swam the 10-kilometer in the Tokyo Olympics, finishing in seventh place. He kept it from her until Thanksgiving.

"The doctor told him at 11 weeks, and I found out with the rest of our family at 15 weeks," she said.

The couple has yet to decide on a name.

To be a mom has been a dream for Twichell, but she's still immersed in her other passion: swimming.

"During, especially, my first trimester, swimming was one of the only things that made me feel better, so I've actually been in the water four or five times a week," she said.

She's not sure if that training will put her in position for another Olympic team. She will be a 35-year-old mother to a young child.

In Tokyo, she was the oldest swimmer to make her Olympic debut after three previous attempts.

"I'm definitely open to the idea," she said. "I've always loved the idea of a comeback and a challenge, so that could definitely be in the cards."

What is certain is that she will be in the water at the Triangle Aquatic Center. This New York native plans to raise her family in Cary.

"I've definitely slowed down quite a bit, but being in the water, it relieves pressure off the joints," she said. "It's what has made me feel good."

And yes, Twichell has been watching the Winter Olympics. She says cross-country skiing is the sport is probably most similar to swimming in that it takes a lot of endurance.