College Recruit Rankings Profile: Four-Star Elizabeth Braun, Class of 2010

PHOENIX, Arizona, August 27. NEXT up in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings Profile series is four-star backstroker Elizabeth Braun. Braun swims for Sprayberry High and the Marietta Marlins.

Braun, who keeps her profile in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings powered by Take Your Marks updated on a regular basis, has clocked a time that clears the U.S. Olympic Trials cut (an integral part of the rankings process). Braun has a time of 2:16.20 in the 200-meter backstroke to her credit.

To be eligible to be featured in this series, please make sure you create a new profile, or request to take over your admin-created account in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings powered by Take Your Marks. Click here for information on how to do so.

Where and when did you start swimming?
My grandmother was at the roots of my swimming; she can't swim and made sure all of her grandchildren learned to swim. I took my first swimming lessons at the age of five from my older sister, Christina, at Miss Autumn's Swim Lessons and Water Safety, where she taught swim lessons in the summer. A couple of years later, I began swimming on a year-round club team after attending several of my sister's Sprayberry High School swim meets. She was such an inspiration and everyone was having so much fun, that I wanted to be a part of it.

Who would you name as the most influential person and coach in your swimming career?
The most influential people are my mom and Coach [Yit Aun] Lim. My mom has always been a firm foundation for me; her love and support enable me to strive for each new goal both in the pool and in school. I know I can risk failure as she simply believes in me and loves me unconditionally. Coach Lim's love for swimming and his interest in all of his swimmers is INCREDIBLE. He knows all of us better than we sometimes know ourselves, and he has the ability to bring out the best in us. He encourages me not only as an athlete but as a person. At times, his practices are intense and he has helped me learn how to challenge myself in the pool knowing that hard work pays off. Out of town meets are always so much fun with him because he always wants to do something fun and see the sights when the meet is over.

What, to this point, is your best moment in the sport and why?
I have so many great memories but making my first Olympic Trial cut in the 200 back is the best one so far.

Walk us through a day of practice:
During the short course season the Marlins practice from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the week. We usually practice on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. At times, we practice on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Our morning sets are usually our toughest with our afternoons lighter on the swimming with dry land added in.

What is your favorite set?
I love IM sets. One of my favorites is a long course set in which we swim 40 100s, IM stroke with fins. The fly is on the 1:20, back is 1:15, breast is 1:30 and the free is on the 1:05.

What is your least favorite set?
Definitely one of the short course distance sets; 1000 on ten minutes.

What are your short-term goals?
Currently, my 08-09 short course goals are to increase my overall strength with increased dry land and improve my times in all events. I also want to obtain two NCAA cuts. I would also like to retain my high school county 100 fly title for the third year and help lead Sprayberry High School's women team to a state title.

What are your long-term goals?
Right now my long term goals are to select a Division I University and to make positive contributions to the team. I would like to have four Olympic Trials qualification times by 2012. My ultimate goal is to make the Olympic Team and represent the USA.

What colleges are you interested in so far?
At this point I am collecting information about many colleges and want to learn as much as I can about both their swimming and academics. I look forward to being able to talk with coaches after July 1, 2009.

How is the recruiting process going?
Recruiting is going well and I am receiving letters and information from different colleges. I know this will be a busy year for me and I look forward to talking with coaches to learn more about them and their programs.

Is there anything else that you'd like our readers to know about you?
I am a typical teenager with an outgoing personality. You will always see me smiling. I enjoy activities such as high school football games, hanging out with friends, shopping and going to concerts.

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