Mallory’s Paris Games Preview
Mallory Weggemann, a Twin Cities Orthopedics and Training HAUS athlete, is preparing to dive into her fourth Paralympic Games.
As this three-time Paralympic gold medalist reaches the final stage of her intense training, she reflects on her inspiring journey and the challenges awaiting her in Paris.
With every stroke, Mallory is ready to make waves and chase greatness once more.
Q: As a new mother and an elite athlete, how do you balance the demands of training, competition, and family life?
A: Perspective is key. For me, it is reminding myself that there is space for me to show up as my full self in all that I do. After initially returning to training following the birth of my daughter, I struggled with this perceived pressure I felt myself facing, one that I felt stemmed from this idea that I had to turn off my “mom heart” when I transitioned into my athlete role, whether that be for training or competition. I quickly learned that wasn’t possible, and it wasn’t until I gave myself the space to find what worked best for me and my family that I really started to find my groove. Elite athletics is a high-pressure environment, balance that with being a first-time mom, and it can get overwhelming, especially when both so intimately require different physical demands. Finding space to honor all of me and not siloing myself gives me the strength to be the best version of myself in and out of the pool. And you certainly can’t forget community, we wouldn’t be able to do this without the amazing community that we have surrounding us and supporting us. For that, I am beyond grateful.
Q: From the release of your documentary Watershed to providing commentary for NBC during the Olympics, how do you stay focused and mentally prepared during such a busy period of your life?
A: Intentionality in all that I do is so important during this season. I feel so fortunate to be at a stage in my career where I can pursue the many passions that I have, from the release of our documentary to hosting for NBC, to my speaking career, and competing in my fourth Paralympic Games. Staying focused and mentally prepared is so important and a constant juggle. Working with a sports physiologist has certainly helped, grounding myself in my purpose is a huge component of it, and being mindful of where my energy is being spent is critical.
Q: How has your experience with Training HAUS prepared you for Paris?
A: The team at Training HAUS has been instrumental in this journey, especially Sports Physical Therapist Russ Linville, who I have been working with since 2018. I feel so fortunate to have a training team that is so collaborative in bringing all the pieces together so I can continue to push the boundaries of my goals. The journey between the Tokyo and Paris Games has been unique as my husband and I navigated through IVF. I trained through pregnancy and ultimately continued in this pursuit following the birth of our daughter. To have my body go through all of that and then prepare to defend my Paralympic Gold all in a three-year window has taken a remarkable team and a lot of creativity in how we approach training. I am so grateful for the team at Training HAUS who has supported me throughout each of these seasons.
Q: Can you share how Twin Cities Orthopedics has been instrumental in keeping you healthy for the upcoming Games?
A: Making it to my fourth Paralympic Games also means I have been doing this for 15 years. My body has navigated through injury, rehabbed from surgeries, adapted to new circumstances, and managed through overuse injury. Having the support of TCO is not only critical in how we ensure my body stays healthy, but also provides me the mental safety net to know I have a team who is looking out for my best interest. My athletic career is important to me, but even more important is picking up my daughter at the end of the day. That is my non-negotiable, meaning my body has to stay healthy and injury free. I am so grateful for the entire team at TCO that helps ensure those two goals are met and is there when we have bumps along the way.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about competing in Paris, and how do you plan to leverage your experiences leading up to the event?
A: On August 31st I will get behind the starting blocks for my first event in Paris and the idea of looking into the stands and seeing my husband and our daughter is a vision I have long held in my heart. That is what drives me every day and there will be no greater joy than to have that moment and know our daughter gets to watch her mama race at a Paralympic Games. It is a dream we have fought long and hard for as a family. Heading into the Games, I keep reminding myself at every turn why I am doing this, what from this experience will matter to me in 20 years, and ensuring I soak up every moment. Some dream of making it to one Paralympics, to say I have made it to four, and I have now done so as a mom, is something my younger self could have only dreamed of. Now it’s just about enjoying the opportunity to live that dream out with my family.
Q: What advice would you give to young athletes who have dreams of competing for Team USA someday?
A: Nurture your love for the sport. Stay curious. Always be a student of your craft. Keep it fun. Sure, there will be days that you don’t like it and seasons that are challenging, but as long as you love it, you can sustain it. And don’t forget to believe in yourself! There will be plenty of people along the way who will try to chip away at that dream. All that matters is that you believe in it!
