Editor’s note: Cade Oliver, a 2021 Franklin graduate, will be periodically chronicling his experiences this week at the USA Swimming Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska.
I remember coming to this facility five years ago thinking, “I want to swim here one day.”
That was what my 14-year-old mind went to right as I walked into the facility. I wasn’t too star-struck by the athletes or the arena; all I thought about was that I wanted to be on that stage.
Now, coming into that same arena seems almost surreal. I honestly still can’t believe how cool the pool is.
It definitely is weird, since myself and every other athlete are walking around with a piece of paper or cloth over our faces, but that doesn’t take away from the moment of walking through a set of double doors and seeing a raised pool — then going under another entrance and seeing the main competition pool (which, I have to say, seems way smaller when you’re standing on deck than looking down from the top bowl in the stands).
Today will be the first day I swim — in the 100-meter backstroke. Really, the goal there is to have fun but also maybe make it to the semifinals, which I should be able to make if I can drop some time. But if not, it’s not the end of the world, because I still have both my 200 IM and 200 backstroke that I’ll be swimming on Thursday.
My 200 backstroke will probably be the best shot I have at making the semifinals, which is the top 16 in each respective event. If I go into it with a good warmup and a good attitude, I think I’ll have a good shot of making the semifinals.
If I can accomplish that the first time I compete here, that’ll set me up really well for the 2024 Olympic Trials — which I am hoping will be my best shot to make the Olympic team.
