We’re all guilty of it, and we all know we’ve said it… “An olympic gold medalist went to my school…yea UVA is pretty great.” But what you may have never thought about is, do you really know who the girl is rocking that beautiful shiny gold medal? Well, here is your chance to get to know our very own Lauren Perdue a little better. Read up, as she opens up about her dreams, goals, and accomplishments, as one of our schools top world athletes. Enjoy!
Name: Lauren Perdue
Year: 4th year
Major: Anthropology
When was the first time you stepped foot in water?
I first started swimming when I was 8.
What is your biggest passion in life?
My biggest passion is art. I love to paint and do arts & crafts whenever I have free time.
What has been your biggest motivation for continuing to swim?
Before the 2012 Olympics, my motivation to continue swimming was to make the Olympic team. Now that I have accomplished this dream, I am looking forward to my final year of college swimming and excited to help my team accomplish great things this year.
If you could play any other sport, what would it be?
beach volleyball so I can be on the beach (my favorite place) and get a nice tan while playing my sport.
What was your first thought when you realized you were an olympic gold medalist?
My first thought was that I will forever be “an Olympic gold medalist”. This is something that I will remember and carry with me for the rest of my life.
How have you handled the transition from being a regular college athlete, to an olympic gold medalist?
The transition back to being a college athlete has been surprisingly easy. I love training with my team at UVA and the support I receive from the coaching staff as well as my teammates is amazing. However, I do miss my USA teammates from the Olympics and it has been a difficult transition from spending time with them every day for a month to not seeing them at all.
All the attention…love it or hate it?
I am truly honored by the attention and the press that I have received since making the Olympics. It has been an amazing road and I enjoy sharing the experience with others.
Where did Lauren Perdue as a little girl see herself at this point in her life?
As a young girl dreaming of making the Olympics, I set my sights on London 2012. I knew that I would be in my prime as a 21 year old college senior and have three solid years of college swimming under my belt for experience. On paper, this was the perfect year to try and make the Olympic team.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I see myself married, no longer competitively swimming, and living near the ocean.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration is my sister, Meredith. She also swam for UVA and graduated last May. I had the honor of swimming with her on the team for three years and she is by far the hardest worker I know. She was academically gifted and dedicated to the success of our team.
Any advice for girls trying to make it to the top?
My advice – never lose faith in yourself, in God, or in your abilities. I suffered through a back injury all last year, but never gave up and now I am an Olympian. Trust that there is a plan for each one of us and never lose faith.