College Recruit Rankings Profile: Six-Star Amber McDermott, Class of 2011

By Reed Shimberg

PHOENIX, Arizona, May 10. AMBER McDermott, a six-star recruit from the class of 2011 is the first subject in this summer's Swimming World College Recruit Rankings Profiles series. McDermott lives in Mill Creek, Wash., and swims for the Cascade Swim Team.

McDermott maintains her profile in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings.

She owns short course yards times of 4:38.89 in the 500 free and 4:09.33 in the 400 IM, which would have put her in the A final last year for both events. She also owns long course senior national cuts in the 100 (57.74) and 1500 (16:22.80) free, the 200 back (2:13.66) and the 200 fly (2:18.04).

What is your favorite set?
I think my favorite set is 3×1500. Although it's long and boring to some people, I can get comfortable at a certain pace and it's just easy for me to do.

Have you committed to a college? If so, where? If not, where will you be taking your official visits?
I haven't committed yet, and I'm not sure where I'm going to take my visits yet, I am trying to keep my options open. And I also probably won't decide where I'm taking my visits until closer to the next school year. I don't know which specific schools yet, but I'm looking at the top 10 swim programs, and I'm a little biased about schools with outdoor pools!

What is your favorite swimming-related memory?
I think my favorite memory, a fairly recent one, was when I won the 800 free last year at U.S. Open. It was just such a big surprise to me and I was really happy that my hard work finally paid off.

Who do you look up to in the world of swimming?
I don't think there is one person that really sticks out to me, but I really look up to all the Olympians because not only are they extremely talented, but I've had the pleasure of getting to know a lot of them, and they are so down to earth and modest I enjoyed the time I spent around them.

What do you consider to be your breakthrough moment in swimming?
Like I said earlier, when I won the 800 free at US Open I was really surprised but I think that was really my breakthrough moment. That swim enabled me to make the National Team for the first time, and start seriously thinking about a swimming career.

What is your daily schedule with school and practice and such?
I wake up every weekday at 4:15 for an hour and a half morning practice. Since I recently started homeschooling, I take a nap when I get home from practice, and then I start my schoolwork. At around 2 o'clock my sister comes home from school and we hang out until we have to leave for practice at 3:15, which is a 2 and a half hour practice. When I get home after swimming I eat dinner, maybe do some schoolwork and then go to bed.

What are your long-term goals?
My long-term goal is to make the 2012 Olympic team, and I think with hard work and choosing the right college, that goal can become a reality.

What are your short-term goals?
My short-term goal for this summer is to make the Pan Pacs team because I have yet to be on an official National Team meet, and it would be a great experience to swim with the big name swimmers from all around the world.

What is something that people wouldn't know about you?
It's kind of ironic, but when I was 3, and lived in New Jersey I had major separation anxiety so I would scream whenever my mom would leave at swim lessons. It ended up that I got so out of hand that I got kicked out of swim lessons and the manager of the pool kindly told my parents not to bring me back to that pool!

What type of input do you have in your training (versus your coach)?
Every other week or so my coach and I sit down and talk about my training, and I mostly just listen and do what he has to say, but if I want to change something in my training he is pretty open to new ideas.

What are you interested in studying in college?
I'm a really social person and I enjoy working with other people, so I feel like Communications is something I'd be interested in. When I'm older I'd like to work somewhere in that field so studying Communications in college would probably be the best choice for me.

Recruits: To make sure we have the most updated information on your recruiting, and to earn the highest star ranking you deserve, please either 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. Then make sure to update your profile with your top times. Click here for information on how to do so.

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