American swimmer Katie Grimes knew what it felt like to go to the Olympics and not win a medal.
At the 2021 Tokyo Games, Grimes was just 15 when she qualified for the 800m freestyle alongside American legend Katie Ledecky, who called the phenom the “future of swimming”. However, Grimes fell just short of the podium, finishing fourth in the 800m freestyle final.
But Grimes' drive never wavered, and her work ethic and commitment to improvement paid off in Paris earlier this month when she took silver in the women's 400m individual medley final.
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Silver medalist Katie Grimes of the United States walks on the podium after the women's 400m individual medley final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Paris La Defense Arena on July 29, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Now, Grimes can forever say she is an Olympic medalist.
“It was amazing,” Grimes told Fox News Digital of earning her medal during a celebratory homecoming “shift” at Raising Cane's in her hometown of Las Vegas. “Having not won a medal at my first Olympics, I feel like it made me so much more appreciative of having gotten a medal at this Olympics. It's a huge honor, but knowing what it feels like to not have gotten a medal the first time made it even more special this time.”
Unlike her first Olympic appearance, Grimes did not compete in a single event. She also swam the 1500-meter freestyle and the 10-kilometer open water, where she became the only Olympian to attempt both the 400-meter and 10-kilometer open water events at the Olympics.
Americans Katie Grimes and Emma Weyant win medals in the 400-meter medley at the Paris Olympics
At just 18, Grimes' hunger for more Olympic medals already has her thinking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“I honestly feel a lot more motivated coming out of these Olympics with a medal than I did after not getting one in Tokyo,” said Grimes, the first athlete on a team to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. “Even though I thought I was super motivated after Tokyo, I feel even more passionate about the next few years.”
Grimes' potential is sky-high, especially now that she's had a taste of Olympic glory. Of course, all Olympians strive for gold, and Grimes knows she can still work to achieve that feeling of standing above the rest of her competitors and hearing the national anthem while wearing gold.
Katie Grimes of the United States poses after the women's 400m individual medley swimming event at Paris La Defense Arena during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 29, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Whether it's Tokyo, Paris or Los Angeles four years from now, Grimes says her goal of qualifying and beating the competition won't change.
“For me, the vision has never changed,” he said. “I've always had a set goal in mind and I think commitment is what got me to that point. I think it's very important to have a very specific goal.”
CELEBRATING AT CANE'S
Now that she's back in the States, Grimes is celebrating after a successful trip to France. She did so at Raising Cane's in Las Vegas, where she stood behind the counter handing out Box Combos as her family, friends and locals cheered her on. Grimes even met with Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo after her stay at Cane's.
While one dream came true in Paris with a medal, another childhood dream was fulfilled with this special event.
Olympic silver medalist and Team USA swimmer Katie Grimes works a celebratory “shift” at Raising Cane's in Las Vegas on Aug. 20, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Raising Cane's)
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“It's a lot of fun,” she said. “When I was a kid, my dream job was to work in a fast food restaurant. So today I got to experience that. It was really cool.”
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