When she dove into the pool for her first race at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Maya DiRado already knew that these Games would be both her first and last. So if she wanted to make a splash, now was the time. Not only did DiRado make a splash, she walked away with four Olympic medals, one for each race she competed in: gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle and 200-meter backstroke, silver in the 400-meter individual medley and bronze in the 200-meter IM.
With Rio in the rearview mirror, DiRado returned home a celebrity. She was given backstage access at "Hamilton" on Broadway, got the key to her city and was surprised at the widespread support she received from Americans everywhere. But DiRado still feels like the same person she was before her Olympic debut and is looking forward to returning to her normal life at home.
