Megan Quann: Life goes swimmingly for this Golden Girl
No more police escorts to high school, news conferences before class or photo shoots for magazines after practice.
Life has calmed down for Megan Quann.
Things are almost as they were before the 16-year-old from Puyallup won two gold medals at the Sydney Olympics. That means an average of three interviews a week, practice twice a day (even during the holiday break), weightlifting and high school.
Oh, and occasional trips to Alabama or Europe for swimming meets.
And though she isn't known by a singular name like Tiger or Madonna, Megan Quann is still big-time. Some of her fan mail arrives addressed simply: "Megan Quann; Puyallup, Washington."
"Some of the fan mail doesn't even have a ZIP code, but it still gets to me," she said. "I still receive a lot of mail almost every day."
Since predicting she'd win Olympic gold in the 100-meter breaststroke in Sydney and then doing it in the breaststroke and 400-meter medley relay, she said her days have returned to normal.
"Normal is a relative term," said Tom Quann, Megan's father and life organizer. "They are normal to us."
People still stare at her, and she is probably the only junior at Emerald Ridge High School with an agent. She'll wave back and flash her signature sweetheart smile.
Her gold medals are tucked away in her top dresser drawer, calculus seems tougher than getting to the Olympics and she has the standard parent-child feud about the car. Even though she could probably buy two Mercedes, Quann is cruising around in Dad's loaner - a red 1991 Mercury with 160,000 miles on it.
Besides the car, life is exactly how Quann wants it.
"I really like this routine," said Quann, who wakes daily at 4:15 a.m. for practice in Federal Way. "I love swimming, and there's nothing else that I would want to do right now."
After making headlines in the summer and fall, Quann has used her name and achievements to help her community. She's involved in the push to build an aquatic center in the South Hill neighborhood. So far, $100,000 of the $1 million fundraising goal has been reached. The land, about 22 acres, was also donated to build the project that will have three 25-meter pools, a party area, locker rooms and weight room.
Recently, Quann agreed to be a spokeswoman for the American Lung Association of Washington to help stop teen smoking. She will be in a public-service announcement aired this year.
She also represents Speedo and did a spot for McDonald's immediately after the Olympics.
Her parents gave her gift certificates for Christmas, and Quann has spent the break practicing and cruising the malls with friends.
Next month, she'll leave for a series of meets in Europe, celebrating her 17th birthday Jan. 15 on a flight to England. Her biggest upcoming meet is U.S. Nationals in March where the team will be selected for the World Championships in Japan.
What is left for the teen swimming star?
"Really, the only thing ahead of me is the world record," said Quann, who already has the American record in the 100 breaststroke.