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.
After competing on the second biggest stage in swimming for the first time, I feel like the next couple of years will be set on trying to place in that top two and earn a spot on the 2024 Olympic team.
In the ready room going into my first event, the 100-meter backstroke, I could definitely feel the nerves in the air. It was almost as if you could touch them. But I was just trying to focus on myself and get ready for my race. I knew that what I did in the warmup pool and all the preparation that I did was not going to be the reason that I didn’t do well. I knew that the only thing that was going to stop me was my mental approach to the swim — and that was the same for all of my swims throughout the week.
But looking back on the week, I definitely see that I need to work on some things. My week was not exactly how I wanted things to go, but I can’t ask for much more since I didn’t exactly train as well as I should have. The way I trained these past couple of months showed this week in my races, where I didn’t drop time or even match my best times.
But the experience that came from this week will be what I’m focusing on for the next three years leading into the 2024 Olympic Trials. Getting to witness some of swimming’s top athletes performing at this level is an incredible tool that I can use the next time I come back.
The experience that I had, though, would not have been possible without the help and support from my coaches, parents, friends, present and future teammates and the community. I am thankful for the position I was given and will never forget those that have helped me throughout my life leading up to this point.
