ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – Four Oakland University swimmers are heading to Indianapolis this weekend to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic swim team.
Jordyn Shipps, Christian Bart, Ian Allen, and Alex Lakin will compete against the best swimmers in the country as they realize their childhood dreams.
“My main goal is to leave with my best time and a smile on my face,” said Shipps, who went to the Olympic swim trials in Omaha back in 2016. “It was just cool to see the world’s biggest stars on the same stage.”
“I swam in China representing the US 1439, which was a pretty big arena to swim in, but I think this is even better,” said the 24-year-old who got married days after one of the biggest meets of his life.
Christian Bart has been swimming for the past 20 years. He has his own way of dealing with the competition.
“I just try to stay in my own lane, you think about them next to you, but you’re mainly staring at a line at the bottom of the pool,” said Bart.
For Ian Allen, it’s bittersweet.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was four years old,” said Allen, who notes this race will be the last one of his college swimming career. “My ultimate goal in swimming was to make the Olympic trials,”
Allen, 23, is days away from realizing that childhood dream.
“It still hasn’t hit me yet,” said Shipps.
O-U swimmers Shipps, Bart, and Alex Lakin will also compete on Saturday (June 15) for a chance to represent Team USA in Paris.
“I do the 100 free, 50 free, and 100 breaststroke,” said Bart.
It’s the moment they’ve been waiting for
“In 2016, I went to Omaha, Nebraska, just to watch,” Shipps said. “It was just cool to see the world’s biggest stars on the same stage.”
Shipps is now the one to watch.
“It’s been a long time coming, but I’m excited,” Shipps said.
All those years of practice, dedication, and sacrifice will soon play out and soon come down to fractions of a second.
Bart says he’s ready.
“I swam in China representing the U.S.,” Bart said. “That was a pretty big arena to swim in, but I think this is even better.”
These elite swimmers have their own way of dealing with the moment’s gravity.
“(I’ll) try to just stay in my own lane, worry about what I’m not doing and not what anybody else is doing,” Bart said.
For Bart, it directs his attention to the line at the bottom of the pool, but Shipps’ will be on her family.
“My whole family, both of my sisters and my parents, swam,” Shipps said.
It’s leaning in on the ones she loves the most, who will be there in Indy, cheering her on.
“It brings the biggest smile to my face to have such a supportive family around me,” Shipps said. “I look to my sisters and parents whenever I need anything. For me, right now, I think my goal is to just go and enjoy the moment.”
The stage is set, the anticipation palpable. The competition, a culmination of years of hard work and dedication, gets underway on Saturday, June 15, promising a thrilling display of skill and determination.
Opening ceremonies for the Olympics are scheduled for July 26.
