LIFE

Surviving high school is tough on its own—imagine doing it while training for the Olympics. That's what Team USA swimmer Cierra Runge did, and also snagged a gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay in Rio this summer. We had the opportunity to chat with the 20-year-old Pennsylvania native about balancing school with pursuing her passions (and training with Michael Phelps!).

GL: Tell us a little bit about your journey to the Olympics. How did you turn your dreams into a reality?

Cierra: When I first started swimming, I was about 4 years old and watched an Olympic meet and told my parents "I want to do that". They took me to swim lessons and then I just kind of moved through the ropes. I started at the YMCA, then went on to a club team and eventually to my first junior team. I also went from traditional brick and mortar school to online schooling at the 21st Century Cyber Charter School (21CCCS) so I could train the hours I needed to train and focus on my swimming. 

GL: Cyber education—interesting! How did you manage to balance school with swim practice?

Cierra: When I train, I train three days a week of doubles (four hours of swimming!) and then the other three are two hours of swimming and an hour of weightlifting. Traditional school was tough because I wasn't able to train when I needed to train. Online school allowed me to balance when I did my schoolwork with my training because I could go to practice and then come home and nap and do my schoolwork in the evening. It also helped prepare me for college because it taught me how to prioritize and manage my time.

GL: Was it tough having to manage your own school schedule?

Cierra:  It actually wasn't, mostly because the teachers and staff were all so great. They're online all the time so I could hop on after dinner if I needed help with something and they'd be there to walk me through it. I also loved the flexibility—if I had a more stressful day at practice, I could have a lighter day of school and vice versa. It was really just about learning how to balance everything.

GL:  What are your plans for after college, beyond swimming?

Cierra: I'm actually really interested in dietetics and sports nutrition. I see what the nutritionists do for us on a daily basis and I'd love to help other athletes in that way as well. 

GL: What's the best advice you've ever gotten?

Cierra: Find your normal. For me it's training six days a week and going to online school. For other people, it might be chasing their dreams of becoming a professional singer or dancer. Or it might just be being a normal high school kid. It's different for everyone, and there's no right or wrong. Find whatever works best for you. Figure out what you love, stick to your guns and just follow your dreams. Don't let anything stop you. 

GL: Before you go, we have to know: What was it like training with Michael Phelps?

Cierra: (laughs) He's an amazing guy and just a really great friend. He just really helped me be the best that I could be as a person and as a swimmer. He's one of those people I could always go to no matter what and he'd tell me exactly what he thought. I'm honored to have him as a teammate and a friend for the last few years. 

by Amanda Tarlton | 8/27/2016