stuart ferguson reflects on olympic trials
We’re 10 days into July, and the summer has already been quite eventful for Stuart Ferguson.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch honored the Collegiate senior who competes for Poseidon as the male swimmer of the year thanks to his All-Metro recognition in six events.
A couple of days later, the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches of America accorded him All-American status in four events.
Oh, yeah. And he swam two events in personal best times in the Olympic Trials contested June 29 through July 6 at the Qwest Center in Omaha.
On the first day of competition, he competed in the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.03. His previous best was 1:04.35.
He entered the 200 breaststroke in 2:20.41 but touched the wall in 2:18.54.
Now, he’s back in Richmond, training regularly again, enjoying a few weeks sleeping in his own bed, and attempting to come down from his Omaha high.
Between workouts, he shared his thoughts about his latest aquatic adventure.
Talk us through your experience at the Trials.
I was going to swim on Sunday but got there Thursday to get used to the time difference and the pool.
Get used to the pool?
They’re all kind of the same, but the walls are different. There’re touch pads on the walls to get your time, and they all have a different feel. Some are slippery. Some aren’t.
The blocks are different at every pool I’ve ever been to. This one was the best pool in the world. I’ve never been to anything close to it.
How did your first dip in the best pool in the world feel?
My first practice, it was me, the lifeguards, and my coach for 45 minutes in this huge competition pool in an enormous arena. We took a picture of me swimming in it. There’re waves in my lane, and there’re no waves in the lanes next to it. That’s unbelievable.
Tell us about your 100 breaststroke.
I’d been visualizing a lot going into it. I’d done a pretty accurate job. I wasn’t that nervous. Everyone else was taller than me, so I had to get out in front of their wake so I wouldn’t get choked up.
I was in Lane 8 so nobody could see me. I was either first or second (after 50 meters) and just tried to hang on coming home.
And the 200 breaststroke?
I hadn’t spent as much time focusing on that and was really nervous. I’m always nervous but never this nervous. My coach (Ted Sallade) was talking to me all the way to the blocks, helping me out, comforting me. Once I dove in, I was OK and was out really well, actually. My first 100 was great. My second 100, I started to die a little.
Did you achieve your goals?
I achieved one of my goals but not my main goal. I wanted to make the World Youth Championships in Mexico. You have to be the top finisher under 18 in the event. I got second twice, once by .09 and once by 3 seconds. My other goal was to get experience on the biggest stage I could reach so in 2012, maybe I can be a contender.
Once your races were over, was it pretty cool to be just a spectator?
I love swimming. I’m kind of a swimming nerd, and I watched every race. I wouldn’t have done that at any other meet, but these were the best swimmers America has to offer. The person who gets third in the Olympic Trials in the US has a very good chance of medaling in the Olympics, but we can only take two.
What do you do for an encore?
I always try to set new goals. I didn’t make Mexico, but I made my third national junior team and will go to either Guam or Vancouver. The fastest two (in each event) go to Guam. I want to make the Guam cut. And I want to try to win Juniors (Speedo Junior National Championship in Minneapolis) at the beginning of August.
Can you sum up your Olympic Trials experience in a word?
Incredible.
