by Joey Pagano
Fayetteville-Manlius alum Ashley Twitchell is a part of history.
On July 14, she became one of two Americans in the women’s 10-kilometer open water event at the FINA World Championships in Yeosu, South Korea to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, marking the first time multiple Americans have qualified for the race.
In the race, a top-10 finish guaranteed an Olympic berth, and Twitchell came in sixth, whereas Haley Anderson of Granite Bay, California was the runner-up.
This will be Anderson’s third time representing the United States in the Olympics, per US Swimming’s press release, and an Olympic debut for Twitchell, who failed to qualify in 2012 and 2016.
Twitchell, 30, said the moment she crossed the finish line was one of stress and excitement.
“Although I was 99 percent sure I had placed in the top-10, we came in with such a big pack that I didn’t want to get my hopes up until I knew for certain,” she said. “It was a combination of relief and joy, and I just couldn’t wait to go hug my parents and husband after I qualified.”
Swimming has been part of Twitchell’s inner-circle for as long as she can remember. She began swimming at three and could swim before she could walk, she said, adding that she played other sports before getting serious about swimming at 13. However, she didn’t think about becoming an Olympian until after she graduated from Duke University.
That’s the way she’s always been, said Dave Sargalski, who coached her with the Syracuse Chargers as she entered her teenage years. He said she always had realistic goals and excelled in looking at what was immediately ahead of her instead of thinking long-term.
In doing so, said Sargalski, Twichell has been able to stick with what she loves instead of burning out. Sargalski added that she doesn’t overwhelm herself with expectations, and that’s been a key to her success
“It was always a natural progression of her ability at that time, whether it was qualifying for Junior and Senior Nationals, or becoming a high school state champion in her event,” he said.
“The most amazing thing about Ashley’s career is that she never slowed down. Every year, she would surpass the accomplishments of the year before, and at age 30, she’s still continuing that trend.”
And she wouldn’t be going to the Olympics if she didn’t stay true to herself, said Bryce Elser, the US National Team Open Water Director. Instead of giving up in 2012 and 2016, he said, she trusted herself and stayed motivated through the adversity. Facing the intense adversity is what has shaped her into who and what she is today, he said.
“I think it’s a great story of perseverance,” Elser said. “There were multiple opportunities for her to back down, and she didn’t. Everybody will come up short from time-to-time, and your response to adversity is more important than the adversity itself.”
Adding to that, Twitchell said her experiences with not making the team taught her the importance of perspective. She had two options: to give up on the dream, she said, or to use it as motivation to keep fighting for her ultimate goal. Her love for running and this lifestyle made this an easy choice.
“I constantly remind myself how grateful I am to get to do what I do — travel the world with teammates and friends, doing something I love and representing the USA,” Twitchell said. “I am just so honored and grateful to be able to represent Team USA at the Olympics next summer.”
However, Twitchell said qualifying in South Korea made this more meaningful for her entire family, considering it was her and her parents’ first time visiting her adopted older sister Carly’s birthplace.
Also at the FINA World Championships, Twichell finished seventh in the 5-kilometer open water race, where she won a year ago. Cary, North Carolina native Hannah Moore took third place.
