An ‘Unforgettable Opportunity’: College Swimmers Get Taste of World Cup Action
A collective rush of adrenaline can be felt across the country, towering over collegiate pool decks.
Excitement, fear, and even a dash of confidence have invaded these pools, as swimmers work through the beginning of their college seasons. For most, it’s a time to touch up on details, both mentally and physically, as the season picks up in intensity. But for numerous college swimmers, this year has been different.
Multiple college teams recently competed in the first of three World Cup stops. It was a chance to swim alongside some of the world’s greatest stars, a racing opportunity they may never experience again. Racing in the middle of this important time in the season, though, presents quite the challenge.
“We had a lot of conversations about whether it was a good idea (to compete,” said Mila Nikanarov, a sophomore distance swimmer at Ohio State. “But we decided it would be great to get some racing reps.”
The college programs that went to the World Cup faced similar dilemmas. Was the meet experience a success? Multiple competing athletes spoke with Swimming World about their experiences at the event, and the aftermath, as they continue through their college seasons.
No Rest? No Problem
One of the biggest variables in a massive global event like the World Cup is the amount of rest a swimmer has received. Every swimmer enters the meet at a different point in his/her seasons. Some have logged a solid block of training while others are coming off a long break.
For the college swimmers, this theme was no exception. Although the pro athletes opted to rest for the meet in many instances, the college athletes, generally, took a different approach. All five athletes we spoke to described little rest and preparation for the World Cup.
“Not much really changed for us in the lead-up to the meet, besides a long swim-down the night before,” said Walker Mattice, a middle-distance freestyler at Purdue. “We honestly tried to think of it similarly to any college meet.”
T.J Frost, a sophomore distance swimmer at Ohio State, described the Buckeyes’ team just beginning their second phase of training. This period focuses on their specific specialties (distance, stroke, sprint). Given the lack of specified training, expectations were limited.
“It allowed for a very low-stakes atmosphere, kind of similar to a practice,” said Frost. “We were mostly happy with how we swam given where we are (in the season).”
Kentucky sprinter Devin Naoroz had a similar takeaway, even finding a sense of pride in the team’s results.
“It was really encouraging, where we stacked up against the top competitors (as a college team),” Naoroz said. “We were pretty surprised, in a good way, with where we stacked up against the top competitors, and it gave us a lot of confidence.”
A low amount of pressure led to success for the swimmers, all without interrupting their training schedule.
Real-Life Practice
While the stakes were seemingly low for the college swimmers, that didn’t mean they dismissed the opportunity. The swimmers described using the meet as an opportunity to practice “racing habits” early in the year, especially given the meet’s similarities in format to NCAA meets.
“It was great to get practice with swimming in the morning, and then having to turn it around at night,” Naoroz said. “You learn how to really prepare yourself for a meet like that, with dealing with nerves, and preparing yourself mentally (for the next race).”
The swimmers especially emphasized the benefits of the finals session, and the palpable energy surrounding it.
“The experience of walking out, and racing the fastest people, that’s not something you can get from just practice,” Nikanarov said. “It’s really motivating.”
Racing Routines
The benefits of the rehearsal extended physically into the water. Swimmers got an opportunity to test out a variety of routines in the water, before, during, and after their races.
For Mattice, it was a chance to hone his warmup strategy for dual meets this fall. The swimmer mentioned noticing other competitors doing additional work out of the water in order to warm their bodies up pre-race, a tactic he may look to implement.
“Keeping my body warm before I go out and race is always important to me,” said Mattice. “So that was for sure something that I could add to my routine.”
Others looked to test their strategy during their races. To Frost, it was a test of confidence against greater competition. The athlete explained that he looked to gain experience swimming against “next-level athletes” at the meet,” something he’d struggled with during his early college career.
“(Racing at the meet) helped me focus on what works for me, rather than worry about what everyone else was doing (in the pool)” he said.
In replicating the challenges they’ll face, the swimmers utilized the meet to prepare for their college seasons.
A “Once-In a Lifetime” Experience
The rehearsal that racing in Carmel gave these athletes seemed to make the meet worthwhile. The spectacle of the event, however, was certainly an added benefit. The meet was held at Carmel High School, which utilized its new $55 million natatorium. It was the first global held at the arena, and it drew significant community interest.
“It was a really cool and empowering experience, from the kids lined up for autographs, to the crowd turnout for finals,” said Naoroz. “Seeing people bond over the high level of swimming was so awesome.”
Purdue swimmer Jonny Hines grew up close to the pool, with his old club team even attending. He pointed to the meet as a statement on how the community is viewed within the swimming world.
“It just shows there’s so much respect for the swimming community within Carmel and within Indiana,” Hines said.
The meet wasn’t necessarily a home run. Most of the swimmers pointed out that they didn’t walk away with exceptional swims, or large changes to how they’ll approach the college season. But it was certainly an experience they won’t forget.
“How often do you get to experience something like this in your own backyard?” Frost said. “To be a part of something so professional, something that just feels successful, that’s something I’ll never forget.”
