By Jessica Edwards
Swimmer Genny Szymanski won’t swim the 200-meter backstroke at
this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing, but she’ll never forget the experience
of competing against the some of the world’s fastest swimmers last week.
"It was definitely not a disappointment," she said. "It
was great to be there with so many fast people. It was everything I’d hoped and
more."
Szymanski is at home in Haines this week, enjoying her first days off
in as long as she can remember. "We have no plans for today," she said, a hint
of disbelief in her voice.
Szymanski, 19, placed 91
.
Margaret Hoelzer, 25, won the event, with a new world-record time of
2:06:09, and second-place Elizabeth Beisel, 15, with a time of 2:06:92, also made the cut
to represent the United States at the Olympics.
Szymanski said she was overwhelmed by the meet’s intensity.
"It was like pictures that are over-saturated," she said. "Lights are
brighter, the sounds are louder, everyone was faster."
Swimmers climbed steps out of darkness to reach the brilliantly lit
pool, which was set up on the floor of the Omaha convention center. Szymanski said the
nearly 13,000 seats were full each evening.
"It was the most people who have ever watched me swim," she
said. "It all comes down to one moment. It’s scary."
Differences between the trials and the Big 10 collegiate meets she had
become accustomed to added to a sense of disorientation, she said.
Most significantly, racers had to adjust their pre-race ritual.
Symanski said at collegiate meets she was able to ready herself in a warm-up pool up to 30
seconds before her heat began. But at the trials, swimmers were staged in a
"ready-room."
As names were called, each swimmer presented their identification to
leave the room and head to the pool for the race. Szymanski said she realized as her name
was called she had forgotten her ID, and was chastised by officials.
Though she didn’t swim her best, Szymanski said her coach and
teammates were supportive. She said coach Nicole Ellis thanked the nine Northwestern team
members at the meet for the opportunity to coach her first Olympic trials.
Szymanski said she’s taking away some important lessons, including
that relying on training was more important than the consistency of pre-race routines in
adjusting quickly to new situations.
Szymanski said this will be her last Olympic trials, but she’ll
continue her swimming career at Northwestern, where she’ll be a junior this fall.
The silver lining for her collegiate team was that with nine Olympic
trial qualifiers, Northwestern was attracting the attention of very high-caliber freshman
recruits, she said. "The team’s success has really attracted a good new
crop."
Training begins again Aug. 7. Szymanski said she’ll have valuable
experience to bring to bear on collegiate meets next year.
"I wish we could do a big meet like (the trials) every two
years," she said. "I’d be wiser, calmer, and I’d bring my credentials
to the ready room."
