NOTEBOOK

Flaherty is often asked about her unusual given name, which is Michael.

“It is not because my parents wanted a boy,” she said.

“If I was a boy, I would be Patrick. Besides, it is not a unique name; millions of guys have it. It is annoying when people ask me if my parents are weird. I tell them, ‘No, my parents are normal.’ ”

Exceedingly so, it seems. They are at the opposite end of the pushy swimming parent spectrum.

“My parents don’t know anything about swimming,” Flaherty said. “They have no idea what a good time is.”

The Associated Press contributed to this notebook.