Spring Break
Making an olympic-sized splash
Jenna Santelli
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Sports
"The Olympics remain the most compelling search for excellence that exists in sport, and maybe in life itself," said former Olympic swimmer from Australia Dawn Fraser. To be an Olympian, I feel, is probably one of the biggest accomplishments and proudest moments in someone's life. I could not imagine something as great as being able to represent your country at the Olympics.
All athletes at one time or another have dreamed of going to the Olympics. Unfortunately, that dream fizzles quickly for most of us after we realize that we just aren't good enough. For the lucky few that do get to see that dream, it is the greatest accomplishment. Oregon State swimmer Saori Haruguchi is one of these lucky few.
Some athletes just have winning in their blood, and she is one of those athletes. In this year alone, she was the NCAA Champion in the 200 butterfly and now she is the Olympic Trial Champion for Japan in 400 individual medley. You would never guess that from talking with Haruguchi because she sees herself as a normal and fun person. Her modest attitude and her consistent love for swimming is what makes her a winner, never mind all the records, all the trophies and hopefully a medal in Beijing.
She wasted no time in making the Olympic team by winning the 400 IM and getting the Olympic standard time on the first day of competition. According to Swimming World Magazine, she told reporters, "My strong points are butterfly and backstroke, so I tried to go out fast." Obviously going out fast for Haruguchi, or as I called her before, "The Japanese Sensation," worked well because she touched the wall first with a time of 4:38.94.
While she placed third in the 200 free, barely missing the cut, she did show her rocking personality after the finish. Her face turned to the scoreboard with one arm raised slightly out of the water in "L" position and a striking little "I am tired" smile after her swim said it all. She is having so much fun swimming back in Japan and at these trials. Haruguchi was seated sixth going into finals, and she managed to shave off two seconds in finals to make a competitive push for that second place spot. Not only is she smiling and having a good ol' time, but also she is improving in every race - continuing her winning ways.
All athletes at one time or another have dreamed of going to the Olympics. Unfortunately, that dream fizzles quickly for most of us after we realize that we just aren't good enough. For the lucky few that do get to see that dream, it is the greatest accomplishment. Oregon State swimmer Saori Haruguchi is one of these lucky few.
Some athletes just have winning in their blood, and she is one of those athletes. In this year alone, she was the NCAA Champion in the 200 butterfly and now she is the Olympic Trial Champion for Japan in 400 individual medley. You would never guess that from talking with Haruguchi because she sees herself as a normal and fun person. Her modest attitude and her consistent love for swimming is what makes her a winner, never mind all the records, all the trophies and hopefully a medal in Beijing.
She wasted no time in making the Olympic team by winning the 400 IM and getting the Olympic standard time on the first day of competition. According to Swimming World Magazine, she told reporters, "My strong points are butterfly and backstroke, so I tried to go out fast." Obviously going out fast for Haruguchi, or as I called her before, "The Japanese Sensation," worked well because she touched the wall first with a time of 4:38.94.
While she placed third in the 200 free, barely missing the cut, she did show her rocking personality after the finish. Her face turned to the scoreboard with one arm raised slightly out of the water in "L" position and a striking little "I am tired" smile after her swim said it all. She is having so much fun swimming back in Japan and at these trials. Haruguchi was seated sixth going into finals, and she managed to shave off two seconds in finals to make a competitive push for that second place spot. Not only is she smiling and having a good ol' time, but also she is improving in every race - continuing her winning ways.
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