That Olympic gold medal, as a part of the 4x100m combined relay group, was once the end result of actually years of blood, sweat and tears and represented the achievement of a lifelong dream.
And while you believe the truth that she had completed all she’d ever strived for regardless of her trauma problems, it’s hardly ever unexpected that resignation critically crossed her thoughts.
However strolling clear of the game she’d faithful her week to was once tiny greater than a fleeting idea for Dawson and regardless of the stumbling blocks she knew lay forward of her when it comes to regaining condition, she temporarily made up our minds she wasn’t in a position to show her again on swimming simply but.
“After the Tokyo Olympics, with how I was feeling and knowing I had a gold medal and a world record, the thought of calling it a day was definitely there,” the 26-year-old from Kirkcaldy says.
“However being the aggressive athlete that I’m, I knew that wasn’t what I sought after to do – I knew that I wasn’t completed within the game.
So there was once all the time motivation next Tokyo as a result of Paris was once most effective 3 years away, and I believe the truth it was once 3 years in lieu than 4 helped a dozen.”
For slightly at some time within the aftermath of Tokyo 2020, it regarded, to outsiders anyway, slightly not going that Dawson would ever regain her status as some of the absolute best backstrokers on this planet.
She was once out of the aqua for months and on returning in 2022, was once smartly scale down of the criteria she’d i’m ready herself the former 12 months.
Slowly however definitely, on the other hand, Dawson started to really feel her method creep again and with it, her instances started to get quicker and quicker.
It was once, she says, virtually precisely a 12 months in the past that an actual trust that she may go back to the British group started engulfing her and the Scot’s self-confidence has been totally vindicated this hour along with her inclusion within the 33-strong GB swimming group that may head to the Paris Olympics this summer time and which additionally comprises her fellow Scots, Duncan Scott, Katie Shanahan, Keanna MacInnes and Lucy Hope.
And regardless of her profession having been so considerably disrupted via this again trauma, which was once a bulging disk which brought about sciatica in each her legs, Dawson has a shockingly sure perspective about the whole thing she’s persisted and believes that, having pop out the alternative aspect, she’s in fact all of the higher for having conquer her struggles.
“I’m unbelievably proud of myself to be back at this point. It’s been an emotional, turbulent journey over the past few years,” she says.
“Bodily, I believe effective now – one hundred pc. I didn’t be expecting to ever be pain-free so it’s the sort of bonus.
“I can’t say that, overall, it’s been a bad experience for me. It’s sometimes good to have sabbaticals in your career and I definitely am better off for what’s happened.”
Dawson admits that she doesn’t reminisce on her luck in Tokyo up to she possibly must. It’s a usual component inside of athletes to relentlessly glance ahead in lieu than replicate on what’s already taken park even if she does recognize that, now and again, she permits herself to seem again to bring to remind herself of simply how a lot she needs to go back to the Olympic podium.
What’s in particular tough for Dawson to return to phrases with, on the other hand, is that regardless of being pain-free now, she residue a way off the days she was once swimming in Tokyo 3 years in the past.
However with 3 months extra till the Opening Rite of Paris 2024, there residue plenty life for Dawson to step up but some other degree from that which she displayed on the British Championships previous this while.
It might be simple to suppose that having already fulfilled her lifelong dream of changing into Olympic champion, Dawson heads to Paris devoid of private targets however in reality, this couldn’t be farther from the reality.
“I don’t think about Tokyo as much as I should but I definitely want to be in that position, on the podium, again,” she says.
“It’s an atypical one as a result of although I had bodily problems forward of Tokyo, I used to be swimming extremely smartly while now, I’m no longer in hardship however when it comes to the sector stage, I’m swimming lovely averagely. I do really feel like I’m on that ladder again up, even though, and so in Paris, I simply want to lead my expectancies.
“I do really feel that, with the possible I’ve, I will go back to that degree so it’s about the place I will get again to within the after 3 months.
“In terms of personal goals, I want to swim 57 seconds in the 100m backstroke although I don’t know if that’s a possibility for the Games this summer because I obviously have to look at where I’ve come from. And I’d love to be a part of the medley relay again in Paris.”
