‘TITLE IX MOVED MOUNTAINS—BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO DO'

Distance swimmer and five-time Olympic medalist JANET EVANS on the need to continue building equity and inclusion in sports

- JANET EVANS

I WAS 10 MONTHS OLD WHEN Congress passed Title IX, and it was that summer of 1972 when I first got in the pool. My mom never learned to swim so she took me to our local YMCA before my first birthday and enrolled me in water safety lessons.

What started as an assurance plan for my parents turned into a lifelong passion for me. I loved the pool and found an outlet for my energy, competitive spirit and enthusiasm for life.

At 3 years old, I joined the swim team. By the age of 10, I broke my first national record in my age group for the 200-meter free. At 15, I broke world records in the 400, 800 and 1,500. And at 17, I won three golds at the Olympic Games in Seoul.

I didn’t know a world of sports where I couldn’t compete because I was a girl. On the contrary, I grew up in a house with two older brothers— both terrific swimmers and water polo players in their own right—but to be sure, I was the athlete in the family.

I was a pretty fortunate kid during my formative years of training and competing. I worked hard, balancing school and swimming, and was surrounded by wonderful friends and a loving and supportive family.

I swam every day and got better with each lap. I was small and had an unorthodox style in the pool, but I pushed myself and had a great tempo, and was blessed with incredible endurance and lung capacity.

At the age of 10, a coach tried to change my quirky style but quickly realized if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. My efficient little stroke could still get me to the end of the pool much faster than anyone else.