Today is the time you can pursue your dreams. Two-time Olympian Gabrielle Rose is setting this remarkable example for the world, from Indianapolis! At the age of 46, with her passion backed by her consequential experiences from the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, Rose becomes the oldest swimmer to compete at the US Olympic Swimming Trials this year, since 2004. But this isn’t the only reason why this event remains special for her.

The dual Brazilian-American citizen had practically limited her ambit to master’s swimming until recently when she gravitated back towards the big stage. She embraced the Olympic challenge knowing that “It required me to come out of my shell and re-embrace, re-embody Gabrielle the swimmer,“ via Olympics.com. And her recent feat at the Lucas Oil Stadium attests that it was possibly one of her best calls.

Whoops of delight echo after Gabrielle Rose’s performance

As the Day 2 of the US Olympic Swimming Trials commenced, the 100m breaststroke event got underway. And, as per the official X handle of the NBC Olympics and Paralympics, Gabrielle Rose clocked in a timing of 1:08:43 to win a heat at the Trials. One of their latest tweets shows the ace swimmer cutting through the water expeditiously, which got the crowd cheering for the legend.

This timing is a significant improvement from Rose’s 1:09:42, which won her a place at the trials. Moreover, it is her personal best so far. And it comes at a juncture when Rose has got down to compete in the breaststroke category for the first time in her Olympic participation history. Previously in the Olympics, she had participated in the 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley, and 100m freestyle events, but never breaststroke.

Moreover, the competition was quite fierce this time around. With renowned names like Lilly King and Lydia Jacoby contesting for the same spot, Rose’s achievement truly deserved the reaction it got from the audience. She had previously confessed to NBC Sports that “I knew that having a big goal would allow me to see my best potential.” Turns out that she was right all along. With her age being no barrier at all, she has demonstrated that she is as strong a contender for the gold as any of her younger contemporaries.

But while she continues to make headlines at the Trials, let’s take a look at who is Gabrielle Rose and how has she sprung back to core competitive swimming ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Gabrielle Rose: an exemplar of talent, dedication, and hard work

Not America, but the early days of Gabrielle Rose’s career saw her represent Brazilian swimming. Consequently, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, she competed in three categories, but could not make even a top-10 mount finish in either. However, she hoped to a smashing comeback in 2000, at Sydney, where she was part of the USA contingent, but her event list narrowed down to a single category- the 200 IM, where she unfortunately ended 7th. Moreover, her resume also boasts a collegiate swimming career, where she represented Stanford University.

However, despite the ups and downs, the swimmer was never short on ambition. She tried again to make it through the 2004 US Olympic Trials, but could not reap the anticipated result. This was followed by her retirement soon after. Nonetheless her love for the pool saw her continuing master’s swimming for nearly the next 19 years. In the meantime, as a doting daughter, Rose also devoted a significant part of the last few years centered around saving the only Olympic-sized pool in her native, Memphis, as the project that meant a lot to her late father.

But ever since she decided to return back, Rose mentions to the Oympics.com that “I actually can’t remember a time in my swimming career when I was so focused on getting a cut.” Moreover, the swimmer who also has 9-year-old daughter supporting her doesn’t feel restricted by her age. In fact, she says, “Age is a big way that we limit ourselves. I just hope I can encourage people to question that a little bit more, and be curious and be brave.” Indeed, she is an inspiration for many.