University of Georgia Honors 10x Olympic Medalist Allison Schmitt With a Touching Gesture

It is an honor when the institution you studied in looks upon and celebrates your success. The University of Georgia has recently paid tribute to Allison Schmitt, a distinguished alumnus and 10-time Olympic medalist, with a heartfelt gesture that highlights her remarkable achievements in swimming. Allison Schmitt, recently earned this honor when she was announced as a speaker in the 2024 UGA Spring Commencement. 

The University’s gesture of recognition serves as a testament to Schmitt’s outstanding achievements in swimming and beyond that. The spring commencement ceremony will take place in the Stegeman Coliseum. Allison and the university shared their excitement over the matter on social media. 

Allison Schmitt goes back to her alma mater

The announcement was made by Georgia Swim & Dive through their X handle, where they posted, “👏 We’re excited to announce #DGD and swimming legend @arschmitty has been named the 2024 @universityofga Spring Commencement Speaker! Allison will deliver her speech during the undergraduate ceremony on Friday, May 10 at Sanford Stadium. #UGAgrad | #GoDawgs 🐾” The 10-time Olympic medalist was touched by the honor and wasted no time in accepting the invitation. 

In her response, Schmitt conveyed her joy and appreciation, emphasizing the significance of the gesture from the University of Georgia posting on her X, “Beyond grateful for this opportunity….@universityofga Class of 2024 see you soon ❤️🗣️🥹”. With this, focus once again turns to Schmitt’s staunch career.

Known by her teammates as “Schmitty,” Allison is a four-time Olympian. This makes her only the fourth American female swimmer to qualify for and compete in four different games. Schmitt is also the current American record holder in the 200-meter freestyle, which she has held since 2009. Her most decorated performance came during the London Olympic Games in 2012, when she won gold in the 200-meter freestyle, 4×200-meter freestyle and 4×100-meter medley, silver in the 400-meter freestyle and bronze in the 4×100-meter freestyle medley. But after this dazzling success, devastation was waiting for her.

Overcoming mental health challenges: Allison Schmitt’s journey to resilience

In January 2015, Olympic swimmer Allison Schmitt found herself contemplating suicide for the first time. This pivotal moment marked over two years of battling depression, a struggle that began after her return from the 2012 Olympics. In an interview with Women’s Health Mag, she told, “I didn’t want to complain, because I knew I was lucky, and I knew I was in a spot where not many people get to be.” 

Read More: “I Love Her to Death”- Michael Phelps Has a Very Close Relationship With Fellow Olympic Swimmer

A few weeks after she visited Penn State in 2015, Allison Schmitt found herself competing in a Grand Prix meet where her close friend Michael Phelps was present. After Phelps’s compassionate gesture, she began seeing a psychologist, confiding in only Michael and her coach Bob Bowman at first, keeping her struggles private from friends and family. But then she decided to open up.

So Allison became a vocal advocate of mental health. “I hate public speaking because I get really nervous, but when I’m speaking about mental health, I can do it easily because I am so passionate about that,” she had told once. With that passion, she now attends different events to raise awareness about mental health issues.

Also Read: Long-Standing ‘Mental Health’ Advocate Michael Phelps Applauds DeMar DeRozan’s Journey