Sweet Life on Pool Deck at Speedo Winter Invitational

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By Neeraja Dave, Swimming World Intern.

Swimmers, giddy with hope and trembling with excitement, talk and laugh in the stands. Spectators and coaches alike cheer and yell as swimmers improve their times. The Rutgers pool deck was filled with smiles Saturday afternoon at the Speedo Winter Invitational.

During the age group session, Swimming World interviewed swimmers from three different teams from three different states in the northeastern United States to find out their favorite parts of the meet. One of the most popular answers was the opportunity to be with friends.

Patrick O’Hagan, a swimmer from Long Island Aquatic Club, explained he loves to race his friends. Olivia Terry from Berkeley Aquatics Club said she loves to just hang out with her friends at the meet.

Another popular favorite was seeing the improvement in the swimmers’ times. According to Tamsin Formon, “The hard practices pay off.”

Alex Ericson of Southern Maine Aquatics Club says she loves to drop time and compete in a long course meet, a break from the usual winter short course meets..

What is the atmosphere of the meet like for the swimmers? Praise Okodogbe said it was exciting and a little nerve-racking. David Steinbrick described it as energetic and fun. Ericson summed it up the best, saying “Everyone was smiling, it was just so fast!”

And what is the hardest part of the meet?

The almost unanimous answer was the nerves and stress before the competition. All of the swimmers also agreed that the feeling of relief after they swim made coming to the meet worthwhile.

Another answer, popular amongst the Southern Maine Aquatic Club, was the six-to-eight hour drive. But as Steinbrick pointed out, “It’s okay because I’m not the one driving.”

Two younger swimmers from the Long Island Aquatic Club agreed that the 400 freestyle was hard for them, but the daunting race did nothing to dampen the positive spirit of every team on the Saturday afternoon.

All in all, every swimmer interviewed called the meet a memorable and happy experience, and none of them hesitated to say they would like to come back next year.

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