Olympic hopefuls take the plunge in Federal Way
Feb 20, 2012, 5:19 PM | Updated: Feb 21, 2012, 11:15 am
Some swim for personal enjoyment. Others swim with a goal of making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. They'll all compete for Pac-12 titles this week at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. (AP Photo/file)
(AP Photo/file)
Some swim for personal enjoyment, while others swim with a goal of making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. They’ll all compete for Pac-12 titles this week at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
Some of America’s best mermaids are coming to Federal Way to represent their schools and try to catch the watchful eye of the U.S. Women’s swim coach Teri McKeever. She just happens to coach defending national champion University of California.
I spoke with the Golden Bears’ senior co-captain Shelley Harper about her goals for this meet and beyond.
“My focus right now is on the collegiate season, doing well at Pac-12s and then NCAAs,” Harper told me. “I will be swimming through Olympic Trials in Omaha at the end of June.”
Competitive swimming is in Harper’s blood. Her father is still a top-flight triathlete. Her mother, sister and brother all raced in the water.
While Cal is a threat to repeat as NCAA champs, rival Stanford won the 2011 conference crown and took a duel meet from the Bears this winter. The Pac-12 is one of the top leagues in the nation, producing dozens of Olympic hopefuls.
Swimming backstroke against elite athletes is part of the reason Danielle Palumbo of Sammamish, Wash. has enjoyed her four years at Washington State University.
The broadcasting major can’t help but marvel at the women wearing the other school’s colors.
“You walk on the pool deck with these people you’ve seen on television and at the Olympic Trials and it’s crazy, a really fun feeling,” she said.
With help from new Cougars coach Tom Jager, Palumbo is swimming better than ever, producing some of the best times of her career. This Pac-12 meet, however, will be her swan song. The Skyline High School alum said, “After this meet, I’ll be done forever. Swimming is something I’ve loved since I was a kid. I’ve enjoyed the competition. I’m very competitive.”
Both Palumbo and Harper enjoy swimming at the world-class pool in Federal Way.
“I’ve had some of my best meets of my whole swimming career at Federal Way,” Harper said. “I’m really excited to get in some good racing and set the tone for the rest of the year.”
The meet begins Wednesday, with final events Saturday night.
