With the Chens, There’s no Such Thing as Sibling RivalryBy Swimming World Intern Natasha Mascarenhas

By Swimming World Intern Natasha Mascarenhas

Check out all of the 2013 CeraVe Invitational race videos, features and daily recaps on the 2013 CeraVe Invitational Event Landing Page.

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey, January 11. Sibling rivalry is not always the case with swimmers. This is especially true with Katelyn (12) and Kristy Chen (10). The two siblings have appeared at this weekend's CeraVe Invitational, held in the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center. Representing the Scarlet Aquatics Swim Team, Katelyn is upbeat with her younger sister by her side in the afternoon age group session of the meet. Katelyn started swimming when she was five years old. With so much experience and talent in the sport, older sister Chen worked to inspire and teach her learning little sister.

Katelyn came into the meet with a strong seedtime of 32.00 in the 50 Meter Freestyle, which she broke in heat three of five. She ended up placing sixth with a time of 31.29, a new personal best. With her younger sister, Kristy, in the crowd, Katelyn was inspired to work harder and show off her bursting inner strength.
“I really like watching her swim, its so much fun!” Kristry explained.

However, when the roles are switched, and Kristy gets the chance to dive into the pool, Katelyn makes it a point to cheer her on at all times. Katelyn and her two best friends all stand alongside the pool screaming and shouting for the younger Chen to swim like magic.

“Kristy needs the cheering. One time, when we decided to cheer for her louder, she dropped seven seconds in an event,” Katelyn declared.

The two siblings work together to inspire and cheer each other on. Katelyn even gives her little sister swimming tips and some advice when times get tough.

“What's great about these two sisters is that they are not competitive at all. They are both in completely different parts in their development as swimmers,” explained Katelyn's coach Henry Fryczynski, of Scarlet Aquatics.

From a parent's perspective, their mom agrees that it's fun to watch her two daughters swim, but also says that swim meets and driving gets chaotic once in a while. However, watching her girls do what they love makes it all worth it in the end.

For these two girls, competing and training is calm and fun, and at the end of the day they

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