_Griffin Schaetzle will be a sophomore swimmer next year at Missouri. He took 40th in the 200-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He is joining The Maneater staff as an athlete columnist._
It’s hard to forget entering what could perhaps be the greatest swimming facility in the country: the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The 17,560-seat arena is breathtaking. As I walked inside for the first time, bright lights lit up the pool. Scanning around more I saw stands that were bigger than I could have imagined at a pool.
It’s no wonder the facility is so magnificent. It is the home of the U.S Olympic Swimming Trials. Olympic Trials are the fastest and most significant swim meet in the country. For an athlete who is new to the national scene, it was a little overwhelming to take in. The competition, the pool and the atmosphere are at another level.
With the importance of the meet, it’s hard to resist taking a step back and looking around the pool deck. There’s so much to see, including the people. It’s stunning when you walk past Ryan Lochte, hop into the same warm-up lane as Katie Ledecky or — in my own experience — jump into a selfie video with Michael Phelps.
That’s correct: My first time ever seeing Michael Phelps in person was while he took a selfie. On the first night of the meet, Phelps took to Facebook and was sharing a live video feed. I noticed him as I made my way to the sitting area, and I saw him pull a random person into his video. When I passed, I couldn’t resist jumping behind them. It was just a small encounter, but it made my first night that much more fun. I even received a few messages from friends saying they saw me on Phelps’ Facebook.
Pictures and videos aside, all of the athletes are there to compete and earn a spot on the Olympic team. For the not-so-top swimmers who are competing, it might be intimidating seeing Olympians on the pool deck. For others, it might be thrilling, exciting and even a learning experience to witness such athletes.
I remember my first thoughts seeing the swimmers I looked up to when I was younger. I had to do a double take. I was in awe with the company that I was in.
Although I was a little startled to see such amazing athletes, I quickly realized that they looked like the rest of the swimmers around the pool deck. They didn’t have capes and other superhero features. They were just people. That gave me a sense of belonging and showed me that anyone has the potential to swim like they do. I guess many people had the same reaction, because many young swimmers rose to the occasion.
Many of the highly ranked swimmers at the meet were former Olympians, but that didn’t stop up-and-comers from trying to earn a trip to Rio. In the 400-yard individual medley, Georgia’s Jay Litherland edged out defending Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte for a spot on the team. Litherland had competed at Missouri’s pool during Southeastern Conference Championships. it was fun to watch a fellow SEC swimmer compete so well.
It was not uncommon to see the younger swimmers step up and beat some of the nation’s best at the trials. My Missouri teammate Hannah Stevens finished ahead of 2012 gold medalist Missy Franklin in the 100-meter backstroke. The nation’s top swimmers were being proved beatable.
Competing at the trials was an incredible experience. There were many great moments, and it was amazing seeing the top swimmers in the country race. But seeing newcomers compete (and compete well) was just as fun. It showed that a spot on the Olympic roster is not guaranteed.
In four years, there will be a new list of the country’s top swimmers. They’ll also be new up-and-comers. Regardless of who is at the meet, the Olympic team will be ready for the taking by whoever wants it most. Personally, I’m even more excited to keep training and see where my swimming takes me. I’ve accomplished a lot in my life already, but I know there is a lot more out there for me. This meet helped me realize that nothing is out of reach, and the Olympic team is truly open for anyone.
_Edited by Peter Baugh | pbaugh@themaneater.com_
