TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Olympic swimmer and Sarasota native Emma Weyant is on the road to the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, which is no small feat. The Riverview High School alum spoke with WFLA Now host J.B. Biunno and three-time Olympic medalist Brooke Bennett on Tuesday ahead of trials.
Weyant, 22, no stranger to the Olympic Games, claimed the silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Now, with just a few months left, Weyant is gearing up for gold by attending the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, where hundreds of thousands will attend the nine-day Olympic qualifying meet.
Emma Weyant, of United States, poses with her silver medal on the podium for the women’s 400-meter Individual medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) 
Emma Weyant, of United States, smiles after a heat for the women’s 400-meter Individual medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) 
Summer McIntosh, center, of Canada, second placed Katie Grimes of the United States, left, and third placed Emma Weyant of the United States celebrate after the women’s 50m freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, June 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
In less than two weeks, Weyant will head to trials; however, the Olympic swimmer said she’s more excited than nervous for the meet, given that the last time she competed was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Picturing this is really just unreal, especially coming from 2021 where there were no fans at all because of COVID — it was limited fans actually, but I think this will definitely be the biggest crowd any of us have swam in front of and definitely the biggest pool,” Weyant told Bennett.
The home of the Indianapolis Colts will be transformed into three temporary pools: two 50-meter, and one 25-meter.
“I definitely think it brings an energy a little bit more,” she said about thousands of fans attending trials. “Obviously, I know the people in the stands cheering for me. I’m always going to hear my mom in the stands, but I think it’s going to be really exciting.”
Weyant, one of four sisters, said her parents pushed her and her siblings to get involved in something when they were younger and for her, it was swimming. She swam for the Sarasota Sharks for 13 years and during her junior year of high school, she realized “[swimming] could be something bigger.”
“I think it wasn’t really until probably the junior year of high school that I really thought this could be something bigger, I could set my goals higher, and I think those two years leading into 2021 were the biggest shift in training and preparation for me,” Weyant said.
The 22-year-old attended the University of Virginia her freshman year before transferring to UF in her sophomore year. Her younger sister, Gracie, committed to swimming at Florida as well.
“I’m really lucky to get to swim at least one more year with [Gracie] and I know that’s going to be really special for the both of us and my family,” she said.
As Weyant prepares for trials, Bennett asked if she had any superstitions or certain songs she’d listen to to get “ramped up.” Her answer? Pop icon Taylor Swift.
“I am the biggest Taylor Swift fan and my sisters are as well,” the Olympian said with a laugh. “That’s all I’m listening to and it always has been. We went to her concert in Tampa and we’re going back in Miami, so that’s always on my playlist.”
While Weyant has an Olympic medal under her belt, it can be hard for outsiders to realize she’s still a woman in her 20s trying to navigate life…while also training for gold. So, to decompress, the 22-year-old said being around any body of water and staying off social media are her ways to reground.
“I’ve grown up in Florida, so the beach has always been probably the most relaxing place I can be. You know, here in Gainesville, the weather is always really nice so just being out by anybody of water has really been calming for me; but I think the biggest thing, especially, is staying off social media,” she said.
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to Aug. 11.
