Q: How did you get started in artistic swimming?

A: I started artistic swimming when I was five years old. Before that, I was doing gymnastics, dance, and swimming. I've loved the water since I was very young.

One day, after a gymnastics class, there was an artistic swimming competition at the sports complex. I was in the elevator with girls who had beautiful hair, makeup, and competition suits, and I remember wondering, “What is that sport?” Someone explained that it was like dancing in the water. I loved dancing and I loved the water, so I decided to try it, and I never stopped. It was the perfect combination of everything I enjoyed. There was the acrobatic side, diving, dance, and the opportunity to be creative. It brought all my favourite things together in one sport.

Q: How has artistic swimming shaped the person you are today?

A: Artistic swimming has taught me so much about discipline, work ethic, and humility. In our sport, we're constantly receiving corrections because we're always chasing perfection. You can receive 100 corrections in a training session, and even though your coaches also tell you what you've done well, your brain tends to remember what went wrong. You have to learn to become your own cheerleader. You need to recognize your own value as a person and an athlete while continuing to work toward excellence, even though perfection is never truly achievable. I'm grateful for those lessons because I know they'll stay with me long after my athletic career. They'll help me in whatever I choose to do in the future.

Q: Artistic swimming places a lot of emphasis on appearance. How did you navigate body image and the changes that came with puberty?

A: Seeing your body change can be difficult in any sport, but especially in a sport where you're constantly wearing a swimsuit and your body is so visible. For me, the period before and after the pandemic was particularly challenging. We went from training 25 to 30 hours a week to doing almost nothing for six months. When we returned to the water, our bodies felt different. Our suits were tighter, our muscles had changed, and we weren't necessarily in the same shape as before. At the same time, I was going through puberty and becoming a woman. Artistic swimming places a lot of emphasis on image, and I didn't fit the stereotypical image of an artistic swimmer.

People might picture someone who's tall, with long legs, a very slender frame, and the grace of a ballet dancer combined with strength and flexibility. I'm five-foot-three and more muscular. I was sometimes seen as more of a gymnast, even though artistic swimming was my sport. I was fortunate that my coaches and nutritionists never pressured me or made comments about my body. I was in a very positive environment, and I'm grateful for that. But the pressure can still exist even when nobody is directly putting it on you. When I was 15, I remember thinking that maybe I needed to change my body to succeed.

As I've matured, I've realized that my value isn't determined by how I look. It's also about how hard I work, the positivity I bring to the team, my consistency, and showing up every day ready to give my best. Puberty can be a really difficult time, but it's important to trust the process, stay connected to your goals, and talk to people you trust.

Q: How has your menstrual health journey affected you as an athlete?

A: My experience has been a little different because my periods were very irregular throughout much of my athletic career. There were months, and even periods of years, when I didn't have a period. They're becoming more regular now. I knew that not having a period wasn't healthy, but sometimes you don't understand what's happening in your own body or know what's normal. I spoke with doctors and nutritionists, and we discussed how my training volume and nutrition might be contributing. When you're training at such a high volume, your body needs enough energy to support everything it's doing. If you're not eating enough to meet those needs, your body may not function as it should. It involved a lot of questioning and trying to improve that part of my health. I've come to understand how important it is to pay attention to these things rather than simply accepting them as part of being an athlete.

Q: What challenges do young girls face when managing their periods in aquatic sports?

A: I think aquatic sports can be particularly challenging because there aren't many options when you're wearing a swimsuit. You're already dealing with the physical changes that come with puberty, and you might feel bloated or uncomfortable. On top of that, you're wearing a swimsuit in front of your teammates, coaches, and everyone else around the pool deck. I've seen how difficult this can be for younger girls. I coach artistic swimmers aged 10 and under, and I love seeing how confident they can be in their bodies. Some of them will simply say they want a swimsuit they feel comfortable in, rather than one that's too tight. I think that's wonderful. But I've also coached older girls who are beginning puberty. I remember one girl coming to practice feeling very sick and nauseated because she was on her period. I could see the fear in her eyes. I told her it was okay to sit on the side, and that if she didn't feel better, we could call her mom. I think it's important not to force girls to continue when they're unwell.

If a girl feels that she has to push through her period because her coach expects her to, she might become afraid to talk about it next time. She might find another reason to miss practice rather than explain what's really happening. I've also seen how period-related concerns can affect competition. One girl's mom once explained that her daughter wanted to wait until just before her performance to change into her competition suit because she was on her period and felt uncomfortable. I could sense the concern from both of them. Unfortunately, I never saw that girl at the club again the following year. I can't say why she left, but it made me think about how difficult these situations can be for young athletes.

Q: If you could change one thing about how we support girls in sport, what would it be?

A: I would like to see sports become more inclusive for female athletes. In sports that are traditionally more male-focused, I think young female athletes sometimes receive less attention and support than they need to develop and continue in their sport. And in sports like artistic swimming, where we're surrounded by women, I think we should take advantage of that environment. Let's talk openly, say things out loud, and not be afraid of conversations that might feel uncomfortable at first. At the end of the day, we're all going through many of the same experiences. We should be able to talk about them.