A Look Inside Being on a National Team

Feature by Kristen Heiss

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, October 2. THE names of the 2008-09 National Junior team and the National team were recently released by USA Swimming. The teams are comprised of swimmers from all around the country and from a variety of clubs.

To make the National Junior team, a specific time standard was set in each event that the swimmer had to make. To be selected for the National Team, the top six swimmers in each event were chosen based off the Olympics, Olympic Trials, and the U.S. Open. Many people have been asking what it means to be on a national team, so here is just a little sampling of what being on the national team entails.

A perk that comes to mind when thinking about National teams are the places the athletes get to travel. Every summer, USA Swimming selects swimmers to represent the U.S. in meets all over the world. Dagny Knutson, a National Junior Team member in six events, has been able to enjoy the benefits of traveling with the junior team. Dagny has been to Melbourne, Australia and Monterrey, Mexico with members of the National Junior Team to compete. For Dagny, who comes from a small swim team in Minot, North Dakota, these meets are fun because "being on an actual team and having them support you 100 percent is a great feeling."

On the trips, the athletes are well-taken care of. Coaches are selected from clubs around the United States to coach these teams.

"I think one thing they want, besides having a fast and smart race, is for the swimmers to have a great experience," Dagny says. "They are very supportive and give great advice."

Working with different coaches also gives the athletes the opportunity to learn how to adjust to different coaching styles and benefit from the advice other coaches have to offer.

Part of traveling with a U.S. team means being outfitted with the official team uniforms. USA Swimming does an admirable job of supplying the National teams with suits, customized caps, parkas, bags, suitcases, shoes, water bottles, rain jackets, sweatshirts, and the list goes on.

Dagny likes wearing the Team USA apparel for the National Junior Team, saying "I loved that I got to wear USA [clothing] all the time."

Another benefit of being on a national team is working with Russell Mark, the biomechanics coordinator for USA Swimming. At meets, the athletes have the opportunity to watch their races with Russell, who helps the athletes analyze their stroke and different aspects of their races, such as stroke rate and break out time. As well as having strokes analyzed, USA Swimming also does lactate testing for the National Team members at meets, so athletes are able to learn what they need to do for effective and efficient cool downs after racing.

Hand-in-hand with being selected for the National Team is being selected for out-of-competition drug testing. Although it is not something most people see as a benefit, it is an unavoidable part of being part on the National Team. Out-of-competition drug testing means that the athlete is responsible for keeping USA Swimming informed of his or her whereabouts at all times by submitting quarterly location forms so that the athlete may be drug tested at any time. Drug testers show up randomly and unannounced to the athlete's home or his or her practice to drug test the athlete.

Working to make a National Team is a great motivator for swimmers. Being able to meet new swimmers, travel, and represent the U.S. is an honor for the athletes. Dagny does a good job of summing up the experience of being on national team by saying, "It is a lot of fun!"

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