Read the NOV ISSUE #107 of Athleisure Mag and see LYCHEE BEAUTY in mag.
There's nothing like taking a much needed vacation in the Fall! The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is a stunning gem on Florida's Gulf Coast. The best part about a vacation is decadence and relaxation which is offered here with the brand's first-ever Pool Butler which is a personalized service that has a dedicated person who dives in and out of the pool to ensure you have everything that you need! The property sits on 18 acres of pristine white sand beachfront and has access to 800 feet of private beach! You'll want to spend time at The Pools which has a number of swimming pools, luxury loungers, and personal cabanas which allow you to have tranquility as well as privacy. You can also enjoy their jacuzzi, a Winding River and in the adult-only section, the Serenity Pool is a relaxing retreat with a cascading waterfall.
Their secluded Grotto is an oasis complete with jacuzzi jets and personalized champagne service at the touch of a button. Guests can swim and interact with marine live at the Under the Sea Lagoon which is a 500,000 gallon habitat that has stingrays, local reef fish, and 2 Aldabra tortoises. You can learn even more with the property's resident marine biologists.
Throughout the property, luxury French designer brand, Vilebrequin not only has a boutique on property, which opened this fall - they have created an immersive outdoor experience with their branded cabanas, beach games, and more!
This property has 168 guest rooms and 26 suites that have stunning ocean views, luxurious rainfall showers, freestanding bathtubs, and spacious walk-in closets!
The Presidential Suite is 3,431 sqft that boasts a private terrace with a panoramic view of the Gulf of Mexico. Staying in this suite gives you access to the St. Regis Butler Service.
Guests can enjoy a vibrant culinary experience with 7 distinct dining venues!
We love a spa moment and the St. Regis Spa is a 20,000 sqft beach front retreat. There are 14 treatment rooms and a hydrothermal area. There is a Finnish sauns and in partnership with La Mer, the spa offers guests the ultimate package with the Genaissance de La Mer Facial —a luxurious 90-minute treatment that targets all visible signs of aging through expert massage and stimulating drainage techniques, for skin that looks smoother, plumper, more radiant, and energized. The spa features a one-of-a-kind outdoor vitality pool with six specialized hydrotherapy pods overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
THE ST. REGIS LONGBOAT KEY RESORT
1601 Gulf of Mexico Dr,
Longboat Key, FL 34228
PHOTO CREDITS | The St. Regis Longboat Key
Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in mag.
Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see CITRUS BEAUTY in mag.
Over the years, we have always enjoyed when we have connected with 2017 US Open Grand Slam winner Sloane Stephens. Most recently, she was our DEC ISSUE #84 2022 cover. We always enjoy catching up with her about her sport, new projects, as well as her philanthropic focus.
We had the pleasure to catch up with Sloane and this time we caught up with her to find out what she has been up to since we last talked with her! We were also excited to hear about her new wellness beauty brand, Doc & Glo that she launched during the US Open this summer! We also talked with her about her partnership with Athletes for Good which is a joint initiative between P&G, the IOC and the IPC that recognizes the efforts of athletes to improve their communities off the field of play, while also giving their best every day on their journey to their ultimate performance at Paris 2024. P&G awarded 20 Athletes for Good grants of $24,000 each to support causes championed by recipient athletes.
Sloane founded the Sloane Stephens Foundation in 2013, helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds dream big, both on and off the tennis court, by offering year-round tennis, education, mental health and financial literacy programs. The foundation uses tennis and education to change the narrative of poverty, health inequity, and educational development. With programs up and running in the Compton Unified School District – reaching 15,000 children in the area so far, the Slone Stephens Foundation will use the Athletes for Good grant to continue to grow the community.
ATHLEISURE MAG: We always love when we get the chance to catch up with you as we have enjoyed previous inbooks as well as a cover with you! You have had a busy year, what does your schedule look like for the remainder of this season in terms of upcoming matches?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I’m currently in Asia for the final tournament swing of the year. After this, I’ll head home for my off-season to spend time with my family before beginning my pre-season training block and playing in some exhibition matches.
AM: Are there any routines that you do before a match to get ready to play that you feel that you need to do?
SS: I always make sure to have a well balanced meal – usually chicken and rice with some type of veggie. It really depends on the time of my match but I prefer being the first match of the day so I don’t have much down time beforehand.
AM: Are there any routines that you do once you have completed a match to come down from all of the energy that you had to exert?
SS: Yes! I always get a massage and try to do some sort of self care whether it be a mask or just lighting a candle and relaxing.
AM: We always love following along your social media to see what you are up to and it's fun to see campaigns you're part of, your collaborations, and travels. Last month, you launched Doc & Glo which is amazing! Tell us about why you wanted to launch this brand as well as the meaning behind the name?
SS: I’ve always loved self care and this was always something I wanted to do. It’s a really exciting passion project for me! Seeing it all come together has been so special. The brand is named after my grandparents - Doc & Glo. My grandfather was an OBGYN – they called him doc, and my grandmother Gloria was a fabulous woman who taught me so much about self care starting at a young age.
AM: You launched 2 products - tell us about them and why did you want to start with them? Do you envision tackling other areas that will be available at Doc & Glo?
SS: We plan to launch more items in the body care space! Stay tuned!
AM: What has it been like in terms of coming up with this brand, doing all the R&D behind it, and finally releasing it for us to enjoy?
SS: It has truly been a labor of love! I’ve been working on Doc & Glo for 4 years so to finally see it out in the world is an amazing feeling. This brand was made from scratch – custom formulations, custom packaging, and months and months of testing. I’ve learned so much during this process and I can’t stress enough that entrepreneurship is not for the weak!
AM: How is your Sloane Stephens Foundation going and are there any upcoming projects that are going on that we should know about?
SS: Everything is going really well! 2025 marks our 10th year of programming in Compton and our programs are stronger than ever. We’re also expanding more meaningfully into South Florida, which is very special to me.
AM: How did you and the Sloane Stephens Foundation connect with Athletes for Good?
SS: I'm incredibly proud to be a member of Team USA. They've provided so much support throughout my career, including a scholarship for my MBA degree. I saw this funding opportunity for P&G’s Athletes for Good in an email and immediately wanted to apply on behalf of the Sloane Stephens Foundation.
AM: What did it mean to you to be awarded the grant?
SS: It means so much to be recognized for the work of the Sloane Stephens Foundation and to stand alongside so many other hard working athletes who give back to their communities across the country. When I started SSF in 2013, I sought out to create opportunities for youth to have tennis change their life. I believe in the power of grassroots sports and want all kids to have an amazing first interaction with whichever sport they choose. I appreciate the support of P&G in making these dreams come true.
AM: Are there projects or initiatives that you will be able to grow or incorporate in your plans because of the grant?
SS: This grant funding supported our summer camp in Compton, which just wrapped up after an amazing 8 weeks. We're constantly looking to improve and add new elements to our summer camp to give our kids the best possible experience. This summer, we were able to incorporate group sessions with our social worker as well as art therapy led by our social workers every Friday.
AM: Are there any other projects you have going on that you would like to share with us that we can keep an eye out for?
SS: We’re preparing to launch our next 2 Doc & Glo SKUs this winter and I’m really excited for everyone to experience them! I want to take over the home and away body care routine.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Sloane Stephens
Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see COURT TO WELLNESS | Sloane Stephens in mag.
Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE BEAUTY in mag.
Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see Fig Beauty in mag.
At the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, Climbing made it's Olympic debut and it returned at Paris 2024. We caught up with Natalia Grossman who competed in her first Olympic Games with Team USA in this sport! We wanted to know more about the sport, her specialty of Bouldering, how her career has been going as she went pro in 2019, where she enjoys climbing around the world, what it means to be an Olympian and to be in the Olympic Village. We also wanted to know about what self-care means to her as well as to partner with Olay.
ATHLEISURE MAG: What is your first memory of climbing?
NATALIA GROSSMAN: I think that my first memory is just walking into the climbing gym and I still remember it pretty vividly. Just, being in awe of how tall the walls looked and all of the bright colors. I was just very drawn to it.
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to climb professionally?
NG: Probably pretty late in life honestly. It’s pretty hard to be a professional climber. I feel like there is just a handful of us in the US who make a living off of it. So I’m very grateful to be able to do that. It probably didn’t occur until my first success in 2021 on the World Cup scene that I realized that this could be my job.
AM: How does one train to become a climber professionally?
NG: It’s just like any other sport! You have to dedicate a lot of time, commit to it, and be dedicated. I wouldn’t say that it is anything crazy! Climbing is the best way to be a climber!
AM: We have had the pleasure of talking to an array of athletes across various sports. So when we talk to those that swim, fence, or surf they have a specialty that they do like swimmers who only do backstroke. Is there a specialty in climbing that you do and can you tell us more about that?
NG: So we have 3 different disciplines in climbing. I partake in 2 of them. I’d say that I am best in Boudlering so that’s my specialty, but there are 100s of moves within Boudlering. I’d like to think that I am a pretty well rounded climber, but Bouldering is definitely my favorite discipline. (Editor’s Note: Climbing consists of Speed, Bouldering, and Lead. Speed Climbing is one of form of indoor rock climbing where athletes compete for the fastest time to the top of the climbing wall. Bouldering Climbing is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations of artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harness. Lead Climbing involves attempting to climb as high as an athlete can on a wall measuring more than 15m in height within 6 mins.)
AM: Climbing is obviously a total body workout for training. But is there anything else that you do besides climbing to optimize you in the sport?
NG: Honestly, not too much. We do off the wall weight training, lots of PT stuff, rehab, maintenance like body work and massage work. We do dry needling (Editor’s Note: A treatment that uses thin needles to stimulate and break up muscle tissue knots to help with pain and movement issues), ice baths, and saunas.
AM: You have climbed all over the world! Do you have 3 favorite spots that you like to climb?
NG: I guess with climbing, there is outdoor climbing, but there is also indoor competitions. Or sometimes competitions that are outside, but they are on an artificial wall. I’d say that my favorite place to climb on real rocks is Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and my 2 favorite spots that I like to climb that are indoors is Innsbruck, Austria is the Kletterzentrum Innsbruck which is the largest gym in the world! It’s awesome and has 60,000 square feet of climbing surface. Another place would probably be Arco, Italy. I have lots of memories there and I love the little town there.
AM: When you realized that you would be going to Paris for Team USA, what did that mean to you?
NG: Yeah, I qualified back in Nov. and it was just such a special moment to have all of the work that I have done to pay off. It has been such a goal of mine to be here.
AM: Are you staying in the Olympic Village and if so, have you met any athletes that are on your bucket list or have you tried the Chocolate Muffins that everyone is raving about?
NG: I am staying in The Village and I have met a couple of other athletes as I have tried not to fan girl too much! I was pretty siked to meet Noah Lyles (Team USA Track & Field G1, B2) and that was pretty cool. Yes, I have had the muffins every day and I guess this would be day 5!
AM: In 2021, you became the World Champion which had not been done by an American climber in 20 years, and you did this very early on in your pro career which is quite an accomplishment. Your mantra is Smile and Fight. What does that mean to you?
NG: I mean, 2021 was kind of crazy! I feel like it kind of came out of nowhere and to me, just smiling and fighting through every moment, through every competition, kind of became my trademark and it’s just something that my coach came up with and I always want to enjoy what I am doing. So if I am enjoying it, I am going to smile and I always want to give my best effort so I will keep fighting!
AM: What the next tournament or competition that we should keep an eye out for?
NG: I’ll be competing next most likely in the IFSC Climbing World Cup Prague 2024 which is in late Sept. as well as the IFSC World Cup Seoul 2024 which is in early Oct.
AM: You have partnered with Olay which is the Official Facial Cleanser of Team USA, why is this partnership important and synergistic to you?
NG: I think that skincare and coming up with a routine is very important and I am someone that thrives off of routine and I love routine! So being able to use the cleansing melts, the moisturizers as an everyday routine that I can do when I travel or when I am home, it gives me that sense of consistency.
AM: We feel that when we do our beauty routines, it’s a great way to start and end our day in terms of self-care. What does self-care mean to you and why is it so important?
NG: I think that self-care can mean lots of things and physically being able to do the things that make you feel good and takes care of your body, but also it’s about taking care of your mind. You need to feel your emotions and have people that you can talk to and not hiding what you’re really feeling.
AM: Your biggest tool is your hands we’re sure. Are there specific things that you do to keep them ready for your next climb?
NG: I mean, I use gloves whenever I apply products on my body and I will use chalk when I am climbing to make sure that they are dry.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 78 Daniel Milchev/Red Bull Content Pool | PG 80 Erich Spiess/ASP/Red Bull Content Pool G | PG 83 Olay |
Read the AUG ISSUE #104 of Athleisure Mag and see FIGHT & SMILE | Natalia Grossman in mag.
Read the AUG ISSUE #104 of Athleisure Mag and see Coconut Beauty in mag.
Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE BEAUTY in mag.
Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see SOY BEAUTY in mag.
We enjoy traveling for a number of reasons and sometimes it's great to get a bit of R&R in general. We suggest making our way to JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa and Rampart Casino. Booking a series of days or a weekend is the perfect way for a proper reset.
The property sits on 54 acres in Summerlin where it hosts gaming, dining, luxury accomodations and of course a spa and pool.
Their Spa Aquae is known for their holistic wellness that focuses on the mind, body, and spirit. They offer a membership program that includes their state-of-the-art fitness center, co-ed Hydra Lounge, and complimentary amenities for this package at $169/month where you have preferred pricing for spa treatments, retail discounts, welcome gift, and more.
If you are local to the area, you recieve a 30% discount on a full roster of spa services Mon - Thurs and on Fri - Sun, you can get 20% off.
We love a spa day and it's even better when we take a dip in the pool as well. Starting in July, the pool will be open from 10am - 7pm daily. For hotel guests, the pool is complimentary and for those who are not staying at the hotel, you can also enjoy it for a nominal fee. Enjoy your time at the pool with comfortbale lounge chairs, towels and poolside dining at Waterside Café from 10am to 6pm. With an offering of casual fair available as you lounge throughout your day, it's the perfect pairing.
To take your pool experience to the next level, they have standard and grand cabanas for guests throughout this season. A standard cabana includes a television, mini refrigerator with water, plush seating and designated cocktail server. Each cabana offers space for a maximum of six guests. A grand cabana is also available and includes double the amenities as a standard cabana for a maximum of twelve guests. Outside food and beverage is not permitted.
To find out about special events taking place at the spa and pool or other areas of the hotel, make sure that you check out their social channels to see about what is taking place during your stay.
JW MARRIOTT LAS VEGAS RESORT & SPA
221 N Rampart Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89145
PHOTO CREDITS | JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa
Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | JW Marriott Last Vegas Resort & Spa in mag.
Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see THE 9LIST in mag.
Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see VANILLA BEAUTY in mag.
The road to the Olympics is one that is filled with an array of timelines and schedules that become hectic as well as important as athletes from around the world qualify to head to the Summer Games! Paris 2024 is only a few weeks away and we had the pleasure to sit down right before the 100 Days of the Games. We were excited to sit down and chat with 2 X Team USA Olympic Swimmer Lydia Jacoby (1G, 1B)! This Alaskan native was the first swimmer from her state to qualify for the Olympics for Tokyo 2020 and she came back from those Games with a Gold medal in the 100-Meter-Breaststroke with a time of 1:04:95 which was the fastest time ever achieved by a female American swimmer in the 17-18 age group. She also received a Silver medal for the 4X100 Medley as well! We wanted to find out how she came to the sport, swimming for the University of Texas at Austin, how she prepares for her meets, her partnership with Gillette Venus, what the weeks ahead look like for getting to the Olympics, and living that mermaid dream!
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you fell in love with swimming?
LYDIA JACOBY: I think at a really young age, I grew up in a maritime community. So I was always around the water growing up and it was very natural for me.
AM: What drew you to the breaststroke? What do you love about swimming this?
LJ: It’s funny! I always say that you don’t choose the sport, the sport chooses you!
AM: Right!
LJ: Yeah, and that’s the same for strokes as well. I was always a breaststroker it just came to me! Even when I was little and on the floor playing with my dolls, I would be in that position. So it just came to me naturally.
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to swim competitively?
LJ: I’d say that I started seeing some success when I was 12 when I broke my first state record and that’s when I kind of realized that I was pretty good at this and it was time to make this happen.
AM: Oh wow!
Being an Olympian, that is a major feat! You were the first Alaskan to qualify for the Olympic Games as a Swimmer. What did it mean to you to be able to go to the Summer Games in Tokyo?
LJ: I mean, it meant the world to me to be able to be there and to represent for my state as well as the community – all of the people that supported me. I mean, literally since I was 4, my whole life they have been there, so it really meant so much for me to be able to be there for them!
AM: What did you enjoy the most about competing in the Summer Games in 2020 – obviously, winning your medals was a great experience! But what did you enjoy most?
LJ: Just the experience and the people! I feel like I truly made some lifelong friends when I was there especially because we couldn’t have our families there then. The people I met there, were like my family during the games when I was there. It was really special connections!
AM: You also swim for the University of Texas at Austin which is phenomenal as in 2023, you were the NCAA Championships for the 100 yd Breaststroke where you won Gold and in the 4X100 yd Medley you took Bronze. What have you been enjoying about swimming with your collegiate team?
LJ: It’s very different than home growing up in Alaska. I mean, I have so many people on the team right now that have similar goals to what I am chasing. It’s just a really positive environment for me to train in.
AM: What is an average day like hanging out with you in terms of working out or training to optimize yourself in the sport?
LJ: In Austin? Ooo, it changes every day! My schedule is crazy! I’d say that in an average week, I would wake up around 5:50am, go to morning practice, come back, eat some breakfast, try to fit a nap in, get good food, go to class, get in some homework, answer emails, lots of trips to coffee shops as they have some great ones in Austin, practice in the afternoon, - and then it just takes me a long time to unwind before I go to bed. So I take a long shower, get a shave in and then get to bed early so I can do it all again the next day!
AM: That is quite the schedule!
Right now we’re just about at the 100th day mark in terms of Paris 2024. It’s hard to believe that and yet, here we are! What do the next few weeks look like in terms of qualifying and all of the different things that are going on before you get to the Summer Games?
LJ: So we’re about 100 days out! Our Olympic Trials are mid to end of June. So we will find out literally a month before the Olympics. I’m just trying to do everything that I can to prepare and I have done everything that I can so that I can really lock in for the next couple of weeks.
AM: Of course there are a lot things that we’re sure that you do to get prepped when it comes to swimming in the Olympics. Why did you want to partner with Gillette Venus and why is The Power of Smooth so important to you?
LJ: I feel like swimming is such an exposing sport! It’s so important to feel absolutely confident in your skin and to feel just really smooth and powerful. Ever since I was little, I always talked about how I wanted to be a mermaid! I probably thought that I was literally going to be a mermaid until I was a little too old to think that I was literally going to be a mermaid – but channeling that smooth skin and powerful feeling in the water, I feel like that is just about as close as I will get to being a mermaid with Gillette!
AM: Well we do have The Mermaid Parade that happens in Brooklyn!
LJ: Oh! Ok! Send me the dates!
AM: Yeah the 42nd Annual Mermaid Parade is on June 22nd in Coney Island. You’ll see plenty of mermaids then and it’s definitely an event that people get excited for!
LJ: I love it!
AM: What can we expect from you and Gillette Venus in this campaign?
LJ: I mean, we won’t know until we get there, but we have some big goals! At the end of the day, I feel like I have put a lot of pressure on myself over the last couple of years and I have just been trying to go into the Summer with a healthy mentality. I have already done this, I have nothing to prove. I want to allow myself to swim freely and put it out there!
AM: That’s amazing and a great perspective to have!
When you’re about to do a meet or competition, are there things that you have to do to prep yourself for that? Is there a certain kind of music that you’d like to have and what do you do to come down from all of that energy?
LJ: For sure! I mentioned before that it takes me awhile to unwind before bed and sleep before a meet is so important! So I really do like to take a long shower, do the girl everything shower – exfoliate, shave, wash my hair, deep condition, and just to feel really good! I’m definitely a proponent for look good, feel good!
AM: Absolutely!
LJ: I’ll do makeup before I go out to the pool. I just want to feel completely confident in my skin. I feel that that is a huge part of my routine. I love good food as well. But music, I mean it’s so much different stuff and it changes all of the time.
AM: Outside of the sport, you do so many different things. You are so talented in music, you model, what are some upcoming projects – obviously in addition to cheering you on at the Games that we can expect to see from you?
LJ: It’s been so busy and I have had so much going on – I mean there’s Olympics and I’m hoping that there will be fun stuff that is taking place after the Games! I have so many amazing sponsors like Procter & Gamble and Venus and some others so just keep an eye out for those from me!
Read the MAY ISSUE #101 of Athleisure Mag and see THE POWER OF SMOOTH | Lydia Jacoby in mag.
Read the MAY ISSUE #101 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.
Read the MAY ISSUE #101 of Athleisure Mag and see AVOCADO BEAUTY in mag.
We enjoy beauty treatments tailored to our needs! Burke Williams' Chief of Treatments, Diane Hibbard talked with us about this spa. Although they launched in 1984, the origin of spa culture traces back to the healing properties of water. They embrace this tradition by offering a range of spa amenities designed to promote healing and wellness through water immersion. Their facilities boast an array of options, including showers, saunas, steam rooms, and jacuzzis, each meticulously crafted to enhance your journey to rejuvenation. Whether it's the simple relief of icing sore joints or the profound relaxation of submersion, water holds the power to soothe, heal, and restore your body, mind, and spirit. Across their 11 locations in California, Burke Williams integrates water experiences seamlessly into their serene settings, inviting you to embark on a transformative experience.
Guests can expect a sanctuary-like ambiance where their need for rest and rejuvenation is met with care. Each location offers a unique atmosphere and decor, providing a distinct and memorable experience. Quiet rooms offer tranquil spaces for relaxation, while the healing properties of water infuse the air, enhancing the sensory experience. From the soothing sounds of running water to the calming aroma of essential oils, every detail is meticulously curated to create a serene environment conducive to healing and renewal, enveloping guests in a cocoon of tranquility from the moment they arrive.
Treatments focus on 3 distinct intentions: Rest, Awaken, and Heal and you can choose the desired treatment that focuses on these categories.
For those seeking Rest, the Tranquility Massage incorporates sound bowls and can be followed by a Nourishing Facial and Luxe Pedicure. These treatments include extended massages and essential elements to help you escape the stresses of everyday life.
For those looking to Awaken their bodies, we suggest their Regenerate Facial which has cutting-edge technology in anti-aging treatment to awaken collagen production and promote skin renewal. Their Vitality Massage offers a transdermal delivery of Vitamin B12.
To Heal, their Deep Tissue Massage targets muscle recovery and repair, while the Rescue Facial addresses breakouts and blemishes, delivering powerful results for pain relief, skin damage, and other concerns.
Their co-ed lounge is a serene space designed for relaxation and enjoyment. Guests can unwind, socialize, and sip on tea while indulging in their spa experience.
BURKE WILLIAMS SPA
450 N. Oak St
Inglewood, CA 90302
Click the link to find your nearest location in California
PHOTOGRAPHY | Burke Williams Spa
Read the APR ISSUE #100 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Burke Williams Spa in mag.
PHOTO COURTESY | Gillette Venus
The road to the Olympics is one that is filled with an array of timelines and schedules that become hectic as well as important as athletes from around the world qualify to head to the Summer Games! Paris 2024 is only a few weeks away and we had the pleasure to sit down right before the 100 Days of the Games. We were excited to sit down and chat with 2 X Team USA Olympic Swimmer Lydia Jacoby (1G, 1B)! This Alaskan native was the first swimmer from her state to qualify for the Olympics for Tokyo 2020 and she came back from those Games with a Gold medal in the 100-Meter-Breaststroke with a time of 1:04:95 which was the fastest time ever achieved by a female American swimmer in the 17-18 age group. She also received a Silver medal for the 4X100 Medley as well! We wanted to find out how she came to the sport, swimming for the University of Texas at Austin, how she prepares for her meets, her partnership with Gillette Venus, what the weeks ahead look like for getting to the Olympics, and living that mermaid dream!
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you fell in love with swimming?
LYDIA JACOBY: I think at a really young age, I grew up in a maritime community. So I was always around the water growing up and it was very natural for me.
AM: What drew you to the breaststroke? What do you love about swimming this?
LJ: It’s funny! I always say that you don’t choose the sport, the sport chooses you!
AM: Right!
LJ: Yeah, and that’s the same for strokes as well. I was always a breaststroker it just came to me! Even when I was little and on the floor playing with my dolls, I would be in that position. So it just came to me naturally.
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to swim competitively?
LJ: I’d say that I started seeing some success when I was 12 when I broke my first state record and that’s when I kind of realized that I was pretty good at this and it was time to make this happen.
AM: Oh wow!
Being an Olympian, that is a major feat! You were the first Alaskan to qualify for the Olympic Games as a Swimmer. What did it mean to you to be able to go to the Summer Games in Tokyo?
LJ: I mean, it meant the world to me to be able to be there and to represent for my state as well as the community – all of the people that supported me. I mean, literally since I was 4, my whole life they have been there, so it really meant so much for me to be able to be there for them!
AM: What did you enjoy the most about competing in the Summer Games in 2020 – obviously, winning your medals was a great experience! But what did you enjoy most?
LJ: Just the experience and the people! I feel like I truly made some lifelong friends when I was there especially because we couldn’t have our families there then. The people I met there, were like my family during the games when I was there. It was really special connections!
AM: You also swim for the University of Texas at Austin which is phenomenal as in 2023, you were the NCAA Championships for the 100 yd Breaststroke where you won Gold and in the 4X100 yd Medley you took Bronze. What have you been enjoying about swimming with your collegiate team?
LJ: It’s very different than home growing up in Alaska. I mean, I have so many people on the team right now that have similar goals to what I am chasing. It’s just a really positive environment for me to train in.
AM: What is an average day like hanging out with you in terms of working out or training to optimize yourself in the sport?
LJ: In Austin? Ooo, it changes every day! My schedule is crazy! I’d say that in an average week, I would wake up around 5:50am, go to morning practice, come back, eat some breakfast, try to fit a nap in, get good food, go to class, get in some homework, answer emails, lots of trips to coffee shops as they have some great ones in Austin, practice in the afternoon, - and then it just takes me a long time to unwind before I go to bed. So I take a long shower, get a shave in and then get to bed early so I can do it all again the next day!
AM: That is quite the schedule!
Right now we’re just about at the 100th day mark in terms of Paris 2024. It’s hard to believe that and yet, here we are! What do the next few weeks look like in terms of qualifying and all of the different things that are going on before you get to the Summer Games?
LJ: So we’re about 100 days out! Our Olympic Trials are mid to end of June. So we will find out literally a month before the Olympics. I’m just trying to do everything that I can to prepare and I have done everything that I can so that I can really lock in for the next couple of weeks.
AM: Of course there are a lot things that we’re sure that you do to get prepped when it comes to swimming in the Olympics. Why did you want to partner with Gillette Venus and why is The Power of Smooth so important to you?
LJ: I feel like swimming is such an exposing sport! It’s so important to feel absolutely confident in your skin and to feel just really smooth and powerful. Ever since I was little, I always talked about how I wanted to be a mermaid! I probably thought that I was literally going to be a mermaid until I was a little too old to think that I was literally going to be a mermaid – but channeling that smooth skin and powerful feeling in the water, I feel like that is just about as close as I will get to being a mermaid with Gillette!
AM: Well we do have The Mermaid Parade that happens in Brooklyn!
LJ: Oh! Ok! Send me the dates!
AM: Yeah the 42nd Annual Mermaid Parade is on June 22nd in Coney Island. You’ll see plenty of mermaids then and it’s definitely an event that people get excited for!
LJ: I love it!
AM: What can we expect from you and Gillette Venus in this campaign?
LJ: I mean, we won’t know until we get there, but we have some big goals! At the end of the day, I feel like I have put a lot of pressure on myself over the last couple of years and I have just been trying to go into the Summer with a healthy mentality. I have already done this, I have nothing to prove. I want to allow myself to swim freely and put it out there!
AM: That’s amazing and a great perspective to have!
When you’re about to do a meet or competition, are there things that you have to do to prep yourself for that? Is there a certain kind of music that you’d like to have and what do you do to come down from all of that energy?
LJ: For sure! I mentioned before that it takes me awhile to unwind before bed and sleep before a meet is so important! So I really do like to take a long shower, do the girl everything shower – exfoliate, shave, wash my hair, deep condition, and just to feel really good! I’m definitely a proponent for look good, feel good!
AM: Absolutely!
LJ: I’ll do makeup before I go out to the pool. I just want to feel completely confident in my skin. I feel that that is a huge part of my routine. I love good food as well. But music, I mean it’s so much different stuff and it changes all of the time.
AM: Outside of the sport, you do so many different things. You are so talented in music, you model, what are some upcoming projects – obviously in addition to cheering you on at the Games that we can expect to see from you?
LJ: It’s been so busy and I have had so much going on – I mean there’s Olympics and I’m hoping that there will be fun stuff that is taking place after the Games! I have so many amazing sponsors like Procter & Gamble and Venus and some others so just keep an eye out for those from me!
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