Two-time Olympian, two-time Olympic medalist and Speedo Athlete, Hali Flickinger, took the longest break of her career since winning gold (4×200 free relay) and silver (200 fly) at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest. She needed the time to reevaluate life and what she wants. Swimming, when it was 100% of her focus, created to much stress and anxiety. Hali had touched the wall second in her individual events one too many times. That wasn't working, wasn't the goal, and wasn't making her happy. Something had to change. During her time off,  and that period of reevaluation, Hali sold real estate in Arizona and loved it. Last fall Hali slowly reentered training with Bob Bowman's elite pro group. When SwimSwam spoke to Hali she had no idea how this new life change would impact her performance. At that time Hali wasn't even sure if she would rest for Short Course World Championships. She, of course, did rest, though she feared she might not have enough of a base of training to finish her races. Ultimately, she did finished, and in spectacular fashion, winning gold in the 400 IM and silver in the 200 fly.  In sum, this new lifestyle is working.  If Hali's situation sounds familiar, you're probably thinking of her peer and old Georgia training buddy, Nic Fink, who prioritized graduate school, while continuing to train, and had the best year of his life becoming the 2022 Swammy Award Winner for Male Athlete of the Year.  Hali shares in this podcast how she traded texts with Nic about his journey and how it worked for him. Hali's on the same path now. At this point Hali's enjoying selling real estate and taking her training one day at a time.