Latina Maya DiRado Wins Gold At Her First And Last Olympics

Maya Dirado Press Conference #SwimTrials16

Madeline DiRado is prepared to make Rio her first and last Olympic Games.

DiRado, who is a first generation Argentinian American, won her first gold medal in the Women"s 4x200m freestyle relay. Along with winning the relay, DiRado won silver in the Women"s 400m individual medley and bronze in the Women"s 200m individual medley.

Not only is this her first Olympics Games, but DiRado made it clear that this will also be her last. Coming into the games DiRado knew she had a career waiting for her back home so she made the decision to be one and done.

Allison Schmitt, USA"s Leah Smith, USA"s Madeline "Maya" Dirado and USA"s Katie Ledecky listen to their national anthem on the podium after they won the Women"s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final MARTIN BUREAU / AFP - Getty Images

With the spotlight on her, many questioned her choice, knowing the fact that she could have such a long and decorated career in Olympic swimming.

Ignoring the commentary, DiRado came out of the tunnels and into the water with her hands on fire.

"It was nice to have the hard stopping point, knowing, do everything as best you can, see how good you can be and then try something new. That made me more excited to go into this Olympic year, and it"s clearly been working," DiRado said.

USA"s Madeline "Maya" Dirado competes in a Women"s 200m Individual Medley heat during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 8, 2016 CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP/Getty Images

DiRado started swimming when she was 6 years old. Thanks to her father"s motivation, just over 15 years later, she was selected to participate in her first Olympics Games.

USA"s Madeline "Maya" Dirado poses with her silver medal on the podium of the Women"s 400m Individual Medley Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016 Martin BUREAU / AFP/Getty Images

Maya is not only a decorated swimmer, she is also a Stanford graduate. According to NBC Olympics, Maya was 13 when she went to high school and 15 when she got a perfect math score on the SAT, and just 17 when she entered Stanford University.

USA"s Madeline "Maya" Dirado poses with her bronze medal on the podium of the Women"s 200m Individual Medley Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016 Odd Andersen / AFP/Getty Images

At Stanford, DiRado was a member of the women"s swim team where she placed top three in all of her races and during her last year she concluded her college career with her first individual titles in both the 200 and 400 yard individual medley. She was later named the 2013 Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year.

DiRado races again today in the Women"s 200m backstroke at 1:30 EST on NBC Sports.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latina-maya-dirado-wins-gold-her-first-last-olympics-n628296

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6 Reasons to Admire First-Time Olympian Maya DiRado

2016 USA Olympic Swim Team Carpool Karaoke

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By Allison Pierce, Swimming World College Intern

The Olympic Trials this past month brought about many first-time Olympians. One of those Olympic rookies is Stanford UniversitysMaya DiRado. DiRados noteworthy swimming career has taken her far, but she is also successful in many other aspects of her life. DiRado is a great role model for swimmers because she can show them how to work hard both in and out of the pool.

Here are six reasons why you should look up to the Olympic rookie

1. She is Team USAs top seed in three events.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

DiRado qualified for her first Olympic Trials when was just 15 years old. Flash-forward eight years later, and she will represent Team USA in the 200 IM, 400 IM, and the 200 backstroke as Americas top seed.

2. She graduated from Stanford with a degree in management science and engineering.

Photo Courtesy: David Farr

Not only did DiRado attend one of the top academic schools in the country, she did so dedicating 20 plus hours per week as a Division I athlete. Clearly, DiRado had to utilize effective time management skills in order to be successful in the classroom and the pool.

3. Shes still dropping time.

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Often as swimmers get older it gets more difficult to drop time, but this is not the case for DiRado. In a press conference at the Olympic Trials, DiRado explained that her improvement has been slow and steady.Its always been a little bit better, a little bit better, DiRado said. There have been some years where it hasnt gotten better but its just like steps forward. Im so grateful that Ive been able to keep improving; I know that doesnt happen for everybody.

4. Shes living proof that love can be found in the water.

Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

Often seen on your local swim team, inter-team dating in everywhere. While not all of these relationships work out, DiRado shows us that the swimmer bond is strong. DiRado married a former Stanford swimmer namedRob Andrews who now works as a software engineer.

5.Shes entering the real world right after the Olympics.

Photo Courtesy: JD Lasica

While swimming is a large part of DiRados life, it is not her whole life. This will be DiRados first and only Olympics because on September 9, she will be joininga consulting firm called McKinsey and Co in Atlanta as a business analyst.

6. Shes a breakfast champion.

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

Last but not least, DiRado is even a fast eater. According toNBC Olympics, DiRado can eat two eggs, two pancakes, and two pieces of bacon from a local cafe in a mere two minutes and 45 seconds.

Best of luck to Maya DiRado and the rest of Team USA in Rio!

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNHn5Vtrzi8mMYar7j9EJK_IZVMBCg&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779169851378&ei=5kenV9iLOInO3QGsi6WACQ&url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/6-reasons-to-look-up-to-maya-dirado-in-and-out-of-the-pool-2/

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