The Barometer Online

Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Curtis Barnard After winning the NCAA Championship in the 200-meter butterfly, Haruguchi failed to qualify for the Olympics in that event. Haruguchi qualified for the Japanese team in the 400-meter individual medley.

The last year has been a very successful one for senior swimmer Saori Haruguchi as she earned an NCAA Championship and a spot on the Japanese Olympic swimming team.

For Haruguchi, the 2008 collegiate swim season read like her own personal records list as the native of Fukuoka, Japan continued her storied career at OSU. School swim records were shattered as Haruguchi knocked off the oldest swim record at OSU with her 50.59 second performance in the 100-meter freestyle.

Haruguchi's name went onto the record list in the 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke, 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter freestyle. After all those records came the chance to compete for an NCAA Championship. In the pool, Haruguchi set more school records in the 200-meter individual medley and 400-meter individual medley, as well as breaking her own record in the 200-butterfly.

The 200-butterfly brought more rewards for Haruguchi, who swam the event in 1:52.39 earning her third All-America title and the NCAA title.

"Last year my goal was to make the Olympic team," Haruguchi said. "In order to do that I felt I should win the NCAA title, and I did that."

Step one in her quest to make the Olympic team was accomplished; next Haruguchi competed in the Japanese Olympic trials. Although she won her NCAA title in the 200-butterfly, it was the 400 individual medley in which Haruguchi qualified for the team. At the trials, Haruguchi won the 400 individual medley in 4:39.94.

"I didn't make the national team for 200 fly though," Haruguchi said. "I made it for 400 IM so it was kind of random."

After making the team, it was on to camp for Haruguchi who was used to the fun atmosphere at practices in Corvallis. It was a different situation in Japan as the coaches prepared the swimmers for a chance at a medal.

"Culture-wise, we have totally different views of swimming," Haruguchi said. "The Olympics are very intense. Swim camp was all intense stuff; we didn't have fun. It's all about training, and they are very serious. It was like business, so I was like 'wow, this is serious.'"

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