I think we have the approach that every race is a sprint. Some races are just longer sprints than others.
I felt so relaxed. It just felt very easy, and that's why it surprised me that I had broken my world record.
It's kind of a loping stroke. It's not the prettiest stroke. But it's what's most efficient for me. And I think I kick a little more than most swimmers do.
When I was six, right before I started swimming, we went to a national competition here in Maryland and watched Michael Phelps swim, and I got to meet him afterwards, and I got his autograph. Fast forward nine years, and I'm at the Olympics with him, and it's like: 'Woah.'
After the 2013 World Championships, I had three goals for the Olympics: to swim 3:56 or better in the 400-meter freestyle, break 8:05 in the 800, and win gold in the 200. I achieved all of those, and soon, it will be time to set some new goals.
I try to make the good days great and take something positive from the days I'm not feeling good - work on technique or something like that.
