FINA World Championships Top Quotes: Day Eight

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Check out quotes and audio interviews from athletes who posted impressive performances during the final day of the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest!

“Like I said after the 200 IM, I thought I’d be battling for maybe a third-place finish at best, whereas I came here with the 400 IM as my focus. I’m really happy with how it went tonight. I think that I executed it pretty well. There are a lot of things I need to work on, certainly, but it’s a good step to where I want to be three years down the road.” — Chase Kalisz (USA), after men’s 400 IM final (gold, 4:05.90)

“(Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte) are my idols. Just to be behind them is cool for me to think about. I don’t think I’ll ever be on the level of those guys, and I think those guys are a step ahead of everybody else in our sport… To be able to carry on their legacy and swim at my best right now, it’s awesome.” — Kalisz, on becoming the fourth-fastest performer in history in the 400 IM behind Phelps and Lochte

“This meet has been amazing. Actually, I’m really sad we’re ending tonight because it’s been such a fun trip, and the group’s gotten along really well. We’ve had some incredible swims and people stepping up, and it’s just great to be a part of.” — Katie Meili (USA), after women’s 50 breast (bronze, 29.99)

“It means the world. It’s the first kind of international-level 400 IM final I’ve ever made, and I know when I went in and made the final I just had so much left at night, so just to finally be able to get in at night and give it all I’ve got, a result like that, it means the world.” — Sydney Pickrem (CAN), after women’s 400 IM final (bronze, 4:32.88)

“It definitely taken a toll, and it’s been a learning process, and luckily it came out in the most positive comeback I could have had. I felt like I let down Canada a lot with the 200 IM, so to be able to go there and get on the podium means the world.” — Pickrem, on getting emotional after rebounding from her withdrawal from the 200 IM final

“I literally had one goal tonight, and that was to have fun, and I did that. I’m not happy with the time or the place, but I’m happy that I had fun, and that’s literally all that mattered.” — Elizabeth Beisel (USA), after women’s 400 IM final (seventh place, 4:37.63)

“I was just taking it all in. It’s been an incredible ride, and I’m so lucky to be a part of Team USA and to go to meets like this for 12 years in a row. It was my time to just take it in, and I did… I’m getting to get out of this suit immediately and go up there and cheer. That’s where I belong, and that’s where I’m going to be.” — Beisel, on enjoying what could be her final World Championships experience

“So proud of those boys. Such a young team. I would do anything for them. You’re not going to have a closer-knit team in three years’ time. I’m not happy until we get that gold… Hopefully, we’re going to give the Americans a run in Tokyo.” — Adam Peaty (GBR), after men’s 400 medley relay final (Great Britain won silver, 3:28.95)

“There’s no bigger honor to be on an American relay and to get to represent what I see as the best country there is and end the meet with a world record.” — Kathleen Baker (USA), after women’s 400 medley relay final (USA won gold, 3:51.55 WR)

“It’s a long meet, but we took that in stride, and every day we wanted to make a statement. Of course, we wanted to finish with a bang. No better way to do that then with a gold and a world record.” — Kelsi Worrell (USA), after women’s 400 medley relay final

“It’s just pretty awesome seem stars arrive, seeing Dressel just come into his own. We kind of joked about it, but getting carried by (Caeleb) Dressel, he’s amazing, and it’s incredible being on a relay with him, incredible seeing him develop into the star he is. It’s cool being a part of it all.” — Matt Grevers (USA), after men’s 400 medley relay final (USA won gold, 3:27.91)

“I’ve never had it happen, so I don’t really know what to say. I’m just happy to be done. I’m going to take a little break, go see some of my teammates in Europe and just enjoy myself. That’s probably the most fun I’ve had within eight days. It was just a lot of fun the atmosphere here. I had an absolute blast getting to do what I love to do.” — Dressel (USA), after men’s 400 medley relay final

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