FINA World Junior Championships Top Quotes: Day Three

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Check out quotes and audio interviews from athletes who posted impressive performances during the third day of the 2017 FINA World Junior Championships in Indianapolis.

“(The World Junior Record) was on my mind. I knew that it would be a huge swim for me to drop even more than I did at Worlds. I didn’t think it was out of the question, but I knew I’d have to do a really great swim to do that. I just wanted to go out there, do the best I could, really represent Team USA well, and I think Alex and I did a really great job of doing that.” — Regan Smith (USA), on going after World Junior Record (2:06.76) in women’s 200 back final (gold, 2:07.45)

“It felt amazing. I couldn’t exactly tell where I was in the field. I just knew that I really wanted to medal with Regan. I thought that it would be really cool if the Americans went 1-2.” — Alex Sumner (USA), after women’s 200 back final (silver, 2:09.04)

“I think my motivation to make this team was what helped me drop so much time this summer. I usually train half backstroke and half butterfly, but me and my coach decided to focus on backstroke this summer so that I could make this team, just get to this meet.” — Sumner, on why she’s had such a successful summer.

“I’m one of the only athletes at a world-junior level that’s ever won a medal for Ireland, and to be able to make history like that, it’s phenomenal, really.” — Mona McSharry (IRL), after 50 breast semi-finals (qualified second, 1:07.79), on what it meant to win bronze in 50 breast

“When other swimmers are watching, younger ones, they can obviously see where you can go. If you watch an American, it’s not the same as watching someone from your home country.” — McSharry, on what her performance at World Juniors could mean for Irish swimming

“There’s not really a feeling like it when you walk out and hear everybody chanting ‘U-S-A’ and chanting your name, and I don’t know if I’m ever going to have another meet again that’s here (on home soil), just like that.” — Zoe Bartel (USA), after women’s 100 breast semi-finals (qualified third, 1:08.19)

“It’s a huge honor for me to know that my teammates, even the athletes that I don’t hang out a lot with, I don’t often get to see them, it’s cool that my teammates from the U.S., they see me as a leader. Coming into the meet, I knew that maybe there was a chance for me to be captain, and I came into it with the mindset of, even if I’m not selected a captain, I want to do what I can to lead.” — Michael Andrew (USA), after 50 free semi-finals (qualified first, 21.79) and 50 back semi-finals (qualified first, 24.67), on what it means to be a U.S. team captain

“The first time, in the 400, I was the first event, so I wanted to set a good vibe for the whole session. This time, I was the last individual event, so when I was warming up, I was watching the girls go 1-2 in the 200 back, both boys make the final in the 50 back, the girls kill it in the breaststroke, everyone do so well across the board, so I was like, ‘I have to step up.'” — Andrew Abruzzo (USA), after men’s 800 free (gold, 7:54.58), on differences from his gold medal in the 400 free

“I love being in the anchor position. That’s my favorite spot to be. I love high pressure situations. I think I swim my best there because pressure is on, I have to do well, there’s no room to go back and forth on it. I have to do it.” — Grace Ariola (USA), after mixed 400 free relay final (USA won silver, 3:28.17), on her mentality anchoring relays

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Gary Austin

6 years ago

Regan Smith terrific at 15 !!!

Isabelle Fraser

6 years ago

Some great swims from these younger swimmers! Pleasure to watch.