“It feels amazing,” said the 31-year-old from the Copenhagen suburb of Herlev who was recently re-elected to the World Aquatics Bureau. “After so many years away from being an athlete, to step back into this atmosphere and feel the energy of so many great athletes is really special. Seeing my name on the wall alongside so many others makes me feel very humbled and honoured.”

Olympic House & Olympian Wall | A Name Among Legends

How special is it for you to be here at Olympic House in Lausanne, signing the Olympian Wall and leaving your mark among so many Olympians?

It feels amazing. After so many years away from being an athlete, to step back into this atmosphere and feel the energy of so many great athletes is really special. Seeing my name on the wall alongside so many others makes me feel very humbled and honoured. It’s a beautiful initiative, and I’m grateful to be part of it.

When you see your name on the Wall, what kind of memories or emotions come rushing back from your Olympic journey?

It really does. In a way, it gives me a new sense of pride. During your career, you’re always focused on the next thing—another medal, another race. It’s only afterwards that you can sit back, reflect, and truly appreciate what you’ve accomplished. That’s a beautiful part of life after sport: your career keeps growing in meaning, even after you’ve stopped competing.

Is there another fellow Olympian’s name that you were keen to see on the Olympians' Wall today?

Oh, I was looking for Michael Phelps’ and Usain Bolt’s signatures, but I haven’t yet found them – there’s quite a number of autographs on the wall! But I did find some others, like Chad le Clos’ signature, and I saw Katinka’s (Hosszu), which was really cool to see.

Olympic Journey & Memories | The Journey That Defines a Champion

Winning Olympic gold in Rio 2016 must have been such a defining sporting moment for you — what do you remember most vividly about that race and how it impacted you afterwards?

Winning Olympic gold was life-changing—not just because of the medal itself, but because of the journey it represented. The medal became a symbol of discipline, belief, and realising that my potential was greater than I thought. What I always try to say is that the journey is what makes the medal special – and this is something that I feel even more strongly about the farther away I get from my racing career.

I mean, it's a journey, and it's a ride, and there are definitely lots of ups and downs. But I think if you can try to see it as an adventure that you're going on and that life is going to open for you in so many ways, and obviously, there's going to be a lot of unknown factors, and you will see that life moves very organically compared to when you're in sports. In sports, you have this goal and it's like its carved out in stone. You have to be swimming if you want to win a medal in swimming; then you're not going to go for a run. But then you come out on the other side, and life is moving more organically, you get to flow with it a little bit more.

You also won a bronze in the 4x100 medley relay in Rio, and another individual bronze in the 50m freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. What was it like to share that medal with teammates?

That was really special. We had been training and competing together for six years, so it was the end of a long journey we shared. Swimming is such an individual sport, so winning something together as a team was like the cherry on top.

Denmark is a small country. When thinking about the swimming relays, one often thinks of Australia and the USA. Looking back, what does it mean to have had such strong Danish relays?

I do, too! At the time, we didn’t really think about how unique it was to have four world-class swimmers from such a small country. It’s amazing – how we were, working together and what we could accomplish. But now, looking back, it feels like a golden era of Danish swimming and something very special in our history I got to be a part of.

Looking back to your first international medal in Istanbul 2012, could you have imagined then that you’d one day be an Olympic champion?

Back then, I was very young. On that relay team we had two older girls and one younger, and we really grew together. The older swimmers taught us so much, and honestly, I felt like the weak link at times because they were so talented. That pushed me to step up—not just for myself, but for my teammates, the team, and my country.

What I didn’t realize right away was that you also have to step up for yourself. For a long time, I didn’t win any individual medals because I hadn’t made that connection. But the relay taught me that if I could rise to the occasion for my team, I could do the same for myself. Once I understood that, everything changed, and it really kick-started my career.

Is there another moment or memory that stands out most to you from your career?

There are so many moments I look back on with real fondness, and not all of them were gold medals—or even podium finishes. Sometimes it was simply making it through a tough season. What mattered was always the story behind it, the journey leading up to those moments.

In sport, we often focus so much on the medals. But what truly makes a medal special is the journey: everything you go through, everything you learn—about yourself, your sport, and your teammates. Sport is so much more than medals. The experiences, the lessons, and the growth you take with you are what last.

A New Chapter | Building Opportunities for Oneself and the Next Generation

Now that you’ve moved from competing in the pool to serving as a Bureau Member at World Aquatics, how do you see your role in giving back to the sport?

I feel very grateful. Instead of leaving the sport with all the knowledge I gained, I now have the chance to give back. It’s been eye-opening to learn about the governance side and everything that happens behind the scenes. I want to focus on athlete mental health—especially for those who’ve experienced success but face new pressures—and also on development. Bringing aquatics to new countries and communities reminds me that swimming is about so much more than medals.

You’re taking part in the MEMOS (Executive Master's in Sports Organisation Management) programme this year. Can you tell us why it’s exciting to further your education now?

Yes, it’s an entirely new journey for me. As an athlete, I never really thought about how the Olympic Games are structured or how the Olympic Movement is funded. Through MEMOS, I gain a deeper perspective and an opportunity to understand all the opportunities that exist within the Olympic Movement. It’s really inspiring, and I would encourage anyone interested to look into the programme and see if it might be for them.

You’ve also put a lot of energy into teaching kids to swim. Beyond being a sport, swimming can literally save lives. How do you see that side of it?

Yes. One experience that really struck me was visiting Bhutan for the opening of a new pool. They have many drowning accidents there, often because children jump into the water without understanding the risks. Teaching kids to swim isn’t just about sport—it’s about safety and prevention. That really gave me a new perspective on the importance of what we do.

What advice would you give to young swimmers starting their journey?

I would say: look at challenges as opportunities. Hard moments often become blessings in disguise and can push you forward. And always bring joy, fun, and playfulness into your training. That’s what will sustain you in the long run and make the journey enjoyable.

Looking Ahead... To Winter!

The Milano–Cortina Olympic Games are coming up. Is there anyone you’ll be cheering for at these Games?

Honestly, my biggest wish is simply to go and experience a Winter Olympics one day. I’ve never been involved in the Winter Games, so it’s still on my bucket list. I’m manifesting that now!

If you could compete in a Winter Olympic sport, which one would it be?

Figure skating, 100 percent! I love watching it. The performances are so beautiful and what the athletes can do is just mind-blowing.

What advice would you give to young swimmers starting their journey?

I would say: look at challenges as opportunities. Hard moments often become blessings in disguise and can push you forward. And always bring joy, fun, and playfulness into your training. That’s what will sustain you in the long run and make the journey enjoyable.