As 20-year-old Sara Lowe strolled into the Olympic Stadium with fellow USA teammates at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, she was overwhelmed.

"We walked out and people started screaming," said Lowe, a synchronized swimmer since the age of 10. "It was crazy. Walking in the stadium and seeing our flag being raised and all our family in the stands was just amazing. The spirit more than anything is what gets you."

With thousands of spectators in the stands waving flags and American fans chanting "USA!"– Lowe became flooded with emotions. The sights and sounds of the 2004 Athens Opening Ceremony was a moment she will never forget.

Living in the Olympic village also was an unforgettable experience for Lowe.

"Definitely not what I imagined," she said. "You could never explain it, you’re staying in the village with all these famous athletes. But at the same time, you’re at the same level as they are, because you’re all Olympians."

While the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Team anxiously waited for its chance to shine in Athens, Lowe and her teammates were having trouble staying patient. The team, ready to face its competition, didn’t compete until the second to last day of the 2004 Olympic Games.

"We were there for a whole month," said Lowe. "Going into it everybody was so pumped, we were just going to treat it like another meet. Everybody was getting done and people were walking around with medals. As it went on everybody got a little antsy and just wanted to compete."

The wait was worth it though, as the team won the bronze medal.

"We were going for the best," Lowe said. "But we had an awesome swim and we felt great with it. I watched the tape when I got home, and we should have gotten second place. I was kind of upset, but it was a medal. It was an amazing experience and I can’t complain at all."

Following the 2004 Olympic Games, Lowe took on her next big challenge – college. She headed to Stanford University where she leapt right into dorm life, schoolwork and meeting new friends – on top of training. With a strong tradition, Stanford appealed to Lowe as it was the No. 2-ranked university in synchronized swimming (Ohio State is ranked No. 1). A freshman Civil Engineering major, she was unaware of the huge transition that awaited her.

"Oh my gosh, it’s so different," said Lowe, who was home schooled through high school. "Right now we’re only training an hour and a half in the water a day, which is so different than what we used to do. I have a lot more time to focus on school, but I also have a lot more free time. Our schedule before was totally structured, I knew what I was doing every minute of the day."

Between the 2004 Olympics and her transition to Stanford, Lowe had a short amount of time to adjust from Athens.

"I thought I would have plenty of time," Lowe said. "I was actually surprised when we got back from the Games - we had so much paperwork and stuff to do. I was all prepared before we left to go to school. I had appointments to get caught up on. I wasn’t prepared for that at all."

While Lowe and her teammates won the bronze medal in Athens, the friendship between the team remains as good as gold.

"We are like nine sisters," Lowe said. "People may think that’s totally sappy, but we spend 12 hours a day with each other. The scariest thing for me right now going to school is the fact that I’m leaving these people that I am so comfortable with."

Lowe’s big step to college wasn’t her first dramatic move. At 15, Lowe moved to California with her mother, so she could pursue synchronized swimming. Her father and brother were left behind, but joined them one year later.

"It was hard the first year, living without them," said Lowe. "My brother and I are only 16 months apart, so we were really close. They probably came out to visit once a month, but it was definitely a bit of a struggle."

Lowe, who jumped into synchronized swimming without prior swimming experience, used her stubbornness to reach her ultimate goal: to be in the Olympics.

"I’ve always been somebody who sets goals," said Lowe. "I wouldn’t quit until I had succeeded, and if I failed, I would work that much harder."

After spending half of her life training for synchronized swimming, her hard work has certainly paid off.