She Qualified for the Olympics With Appendicitis | Hail to Her

Two-time Olympian and Michigan swimming star Stephanie Balduccini reveals how she competed at the Olympic trials with appendicitis, qualified for the Paris Games and then went directly to the hospital for surgery.Stephanie joins Haley Polk on Hail to Her to discuss reaching her first Olympics at only 16, experiencing imposter syndrome in Tokyo, moving from Brazil to Michigan, winning a Big Ten championship and navigating NIL restrictions as an international student-athlete.She also opens up about the mental and emotional side of elite swimming, nearly walking away from the sport, rediscovering her joy through a coaching change and setting her sights on an NCAA title and a possible third Olympic appearance at Los Angeles 2028.