By Emma Gresser, Swimming World Intern<\/i><\/p>\n
CINCINNATI – For the past three years, Helena Pikhartova has attended The University of Cincinnati as the only member of her family not living in the Czech Republic 4,560 miles away. In May, her younger sister, Monika, committed to Cincinnati and became a Bearcat officially this August. Now, Helena and Monika Pikhartova are under the same roof like they were three years ago, but in a different country. Was the transition to the United States easier for Monika with her big sister there?<\/p>\n
\u201cYes!\u201d Monika replied immediately. \u201cA lot. She helps me with everything from my homework to telling me what to swim if I do not understand the coaches.\u201d <\/p>\n
UC head coach Mandy DiSalle also agrees having an older sister is comforting. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think for any international student-athlete, the adjustment coming over to America is very challenging\u201d she said. \u201cFor Monika, having her older sister here brings an immediate comfort level for her, having that family member here who already knows the ropes, knows where to go, who to talk to, what to do. Having someone that has been through the program for a few years I think has helped Monika really adjust, not only quickly, but adjust well.\u201d <\/p>\n
This situation has brought the sisters closer together in just the five months they have been together in the States. Monika explains how the switch has quickly changed after the start of the semester: \u201cIn the beginning, it was too much and really crowded. Now I am so happy. It\u2019s awesome.\u201d <\/p>\n
Helena agreed with her sister that they are \u201cdefinitely closer since the past three years that I have been here.\u201d Despite being away from their parents, Cincinnati feels a little more like home because the sisters have each other. <\/p>\n
A SISTERLY BOND<\/b>
\nThe Pikhartova sisters have created a bond as they have grown. After Helena started having back problems while competing in track and field, she made the switch to swimming at age 11. Monika went along for the ride.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was 9 when I started swimming,\u201d Monika said. \u201cI was forced (to swim) because my mother told me that it was because she didn\u2019t want to go to two different clubs for us in the evening.\u201d <\/p>\n
This sounds a lot like the typical swimming family. In the pool, both girls specialize in the breaststroke events. They trained together back home for the same club and sometimes in the same lane. Helena explains that she and her younger sister \u201calways swam breaststroke because we were good at it.\u201d Both have been successful and continued to compete in those events through college. <\/p>\n
Helena represented the Czech Republic at 2010 European Championships. She currently owns the UC school record in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.05) and is the second fastest all\u2013time in the 200 breaststroke (2:12.55). <\/p>\n
The sibling rivalry doesn\u2019t appear to exist between the two.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like we have to beat someone when we race together,\u201d Monika said. \u201cI am happy if she beats someone else. It\u2019s not like I have to beat her.\u201d <\/p>\n
During most breaststroke practices, the girls still train in the same lane. \u201cThey definitely support each other,\u201d DiSalle said. \u201cI think there is going to be a little more rivalry, especially as we get into the meet this weekend (RedHawk Invitational) and Monika gets a chance to rest. When it does come to the conclusion of the season, I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a little part of her that wants to show her big sister up.\u201d <\/p>\n
Helena also agrees that they share an exclusive relationship when they train. \u201cWe emphasize more that we are sisters in the pool rather than teammates. I tell her things I wouldn\u2019t tell other people, some mean things like \u2018don\u2019t pull on the lane line!\u2019 but I also encourage her when it gets tough.\u201d <\/p>\n
Out of the pool, both girls are majoring in physics. Helena plans to continue her education in physics upon graduation this spring. \u201cI decided to start with physics and I really like the physics department here,\u201d explains Helena. She advised Monika to study the same subject. <\/p>\n
Monika agrees: \u201cI really like physics and having my older sister help me with my homework is great.\u201d <\/p>\n
FINISHING THE 2014-2015 SEASON<\/b>
\nMonika mentions her goal this season is to simply \u201cswim fast.\u201d Helena is quick to come back with \u201cMonika\u2019s goal is to beat me\u201d as Monika nods her head. As for next season, Monika will have to venture through the Cincinnati program without her sister there every day. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve liked having Monika her my senior year,\u201d Helena says. \u201cIt\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the average foreign swimmer, it\u2019s a typical year of being away from family and home. For the Pikhartova sisters, they have a little bit of home with each other.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Emma Gresser, Swimming World Intern CINCINNATI – For the past three years, Helena Pikhartova has attended The University of Cincinnati as the only member of her family not living<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":115869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[3469,44116,46890,46889,1842],"class_list":["post-115868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college","tag-czech-republic","tag-helena-pikhartova","tag-mandy-disalle","tag-monika-pikhartova","tag-university-of-cincinnati"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n