Freshman Azra Avdic often finds herself telling friends about the people she is teammates with. Senior Michael Chadwick and junior Hannah Stevens are on the U.S. National Team, and senior Fabian Schwingenschlogl was last year’s champion in the 100-yard breaststroke at NCAA Championships.

Now Avdic is swimming at their level.

“What my parents told me is … ‘you’ve worked so hard, and you’ve put so much effort in the sport, and you’re up there with them,’” Avdic said.

Avdic has triple citizenship. Her mother is from Peru, her father is from Bosnia, and she was born in the United States.

The Skokie, Illinois, native represents Peru internationally, and she earned a silver medal in the 800-meter freestyle relay at the 2016 South American Championships. Avdic holds national records in multiple events and is set to represent Peru at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest.

Avdic was in a selection pool of swimmers eligible to compete at the Rio Olympics. Ultimately, Peru elected to take a more experienced swimmer.

“I was OK with it,” Avdic said. “I was a little salty at first, just a little upset, because it’s something that you put so much time and effort into.”

Though she did not get to go to Rio, Peru team officials told Avdic that, as long as she keeps training, she will most likely have a spot on the 2020 team.

Missouri coach Greg Rhodenbaugh feels that Avdic’s age is an advantage. When the Tokyo Olympics roll around, she will be a more experienced swimmer.

“She’s got a great birthday, because in four years, at the end of her senior year, she’s going to be in a place where if she keeps developing, then she could go to the Olympic Games,” Rhodenbaugh said. “And who knows what she might be able to do there.”

Avdic has big goals for the future. She hopes to make semifinals in the 200-meter butterfly — her signature event — at next year’s World Championships. At the 2020 Olympics, she aims to qualify for finals and potentially win a medal.

Since Avdic came to Missouri, her training regimen has been drastically different than anything she’s experienced. She is using new equipment in the water and lifting weights for the first time in her life.

“My body is in obliterating pain right now,” she said. “It’s hard to get up in the morning because I’m like, ‘I can’t move!’ … it’s good pain, because I know it’s going to be worth it someday.”

Rhodenbaugh is pleased with what he’s seen from Avdic so far in 2016. He feels she has good potential going forward.

“She’s got a lot of the right tools for swimming,” he said. “She’s a little taller, and she’s got a good feel for the water and she’s got a good racing mentality.”

Avdic will certainly help the Tigers in the 200-yard butterfly, and she could also contribute in her secondary events. At the Swim Across America 2.4-mile-race on Aug. 27, Avdic led all Missouri women with a time of 51:23, showing her potential as a distance swimmer.

In her first college season, Avdic hopes to qualify for NCAA Championships and place in finals. Her best time of 1:57 in the 200-yard butterfly would have just missed qualifying for the 2016 meet, so she is hopeful going into the season.

Avdic has been happy with her transition into life on the Missouri campus. She feels herself improving in the water, and she enjoys her teammates.

“They’re all so supportive,” she said. “In the pool they’re always cheering you on, even if I’m sucking at some set, they’re always there. I’m really connecting with all of them, and that’s all I kind of wanted coming in and transitioning from high school into college.”

_Edited by Tyler Kraft | tkraft@themaneater.com_