Competing in the can certainly 10km marathon go swimming at the Tokyo Olympics in Aug 2021, the 24-year-old became the first Black female swimmer to represent Team GIGABYTE at an Olympic Online games.
Just two Black swimmers had represented The uk at the Games before Dearing: Kevin Burns swam at the 1976 Olympics within Montreal and John Marshall won bronze in Moscow 4 years later.
“It’s some thing I never believed I would be or would achieve, inch Dearing told CNN Sport .
“To have visited the Olympic Video games is incredible plus I’m really privileged to be one of several select people who have ever represented GB in a Olympics. ”
Tokyo turmoil
Whatever the result, she had written herself into the history books the moment the lady dove into the oceans of the Odaiba Ocean Park, but for Dearing, this was exactly the problem — the result has been everything.
Having fallen away from the leading pack in early stages, Dearing finished nineteenth as Brazil’s Marcela Cunha took precious metal. “I’m pretty broken, ” she informed reporters after the competition.
4 months later whenever CNN speaks along with her, the pain is still raw.
“It wasn’t the things i anticipated or anticipated of myself in any way, I was really disappointed by it, ” Dearing said.
“It’s always going to sit with me and I think there’s nothing wrong with this — that’s the passion I have for wanting to be who We are, I want to be among the best athletes in the world.
“Having that will result kind of turn out reflecting my duration of work is exactly what is really hurt me personally at the moment. ”
‘Fuel for the fire’
Months back into intense training, for now Dearing’s focus is in the 2022 Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham — a quite literal home Games meant for Dearing, born and raised in the West Midlands city.
Yet given the extent of her disappointment, it is maybe unsurprising that she gets already set the girl sights on the Paris, france Olympics in 2024, with qualification set to take place a year before the Games.
If the “fuel for your fire” stoked with the hurt of Tokyo wasn’t enough, Dearing would arrive in Paris without the added bodyweight of being a new Olympian — the weight she confesses she didn’t completely appreciate at the time.
“I did not give it as much believed as I think I ought to have, ” Dearing said.
“I thought, ‘I’m racing against the exact same women that I always race against… how different will the Games be? ‘ And they were.
“It was exciting plus amazing, but also incredibly terrifying. Having that knowledge of all those emotions — everything that’s going on — is only going to make my brain frame and my position stronger intended for Paris. ”
Return of followers
On top of that, there is the potential boost of having enthusiasts, friends and family present. Having debuted at a Games unlike any other of all time — run without fans due to the pandemic — Dearing will embrace a much more conventional experience in the French capital should she qualify.
“I can feel the Games as they were in the past — have got fans there and go live this, ” she mentioned.
“I’ve only ever had somebody come and watch me personally once at a competitors abroad, so Now i am kind of used to nobody being there for me, but Paris would be a great opportunity to obtain friends and family out and obtain everyone having a good time.
“Hopefully, We swim well and also have a really good race and after that have a big special event at the end — it can all part of the pleasure of the sport. inch