10 Hogs Head to Trials with Hopes of the Olympics
By: Aaron Nolan, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: June 1, 2012
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games are right around the corner, and several Arkansas Razorbacks have their eyes on London, hoping to make the U.S. Olympic team. [Click here to watch this report].
Head swimming coach Jeff Poppell said, "It's been on our schedule all year long, it's been something everybody's been excited about and working really hard towards."
The work will continue as 10 Razorback swimmers have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska in late June.
Razorback junior, Liz Braun is going to the trials for the first time, she said, "It's like surreal, the fact that I am actually going."
"I'm really excited, it'll definitely be the peak of my career."
Chelsea Franklin is making here second trip to the trials, she added, "It's not real until you are there."
This chance is a rare one, about 1,200 swimmers will compete in Omaha, just 53 will don the red, white, and blue.
Poppell said, ".5 percent of all the swimmers in the United States actually qualify for the US Olympic trails, and then .02 are fortunate enough to make the US Olympic Team."
The Hogs aren't taking this opportunity lightly, the 10 athletes train nine times a week.
Regardless of the outcome at trials, having 10 Razorbacks at the trials is helping the outlook of the Arkansas swimming program. Four years ago, only four Hogs competed at the trials.
Braun said, "It's like now we are taking the program to a next level."
Poppell added, "The more athletes we have for the University of Arkansas and for the Hogs, achieving that status, and qualifying for that competition, the better the program is."
With more talent aiming for the Olympics, more talent might want to come and swim in Fayetteville.
Franklin said having Razorbacks swimming at the trials should have a positive effect on recruits, "Showing them that
this is what the program is all about and this is where you can get if you put your heart and your soul into it."
The U.S. Swimming Trials will be held from June 25th until July 2nd.
Click here for more on the Razorback swimming team.
Head swimming coach Jeff Poppell said, "It's been on our schedule all year long, it's been something everybody's been excited about and working really hard towards."
The work will continue as 10 Razorback swimmers have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska in late June.
Razorback junior, Liz Braun is going to the trials for the first time, she said, "It's like surreal, the fact that I am actually going."
"I'm really excited, it'll definitely be the peak of my career."
Chelsea Franklin is making here second trip to the trials, she added, "It's not real until you are there."
This chance is a rare one, about 1,200 swimmers will compete in Omaha, just 53 will don the red, white, and blue.
Poppell said, ".5 percent of all the swimmers in the United States actually qualify for the US Olympic trails, and then .02 are fortunate enough to make the US Olympic Team."
The Hogs aren't taking this opportunity lightly, the 10 athletes train nine times a week.
Regardless of the outcome at trials, having 10 Razorbacks at the trials is helping the outlook of the Arkansas swimming program. Four years ago, only four Hogs competed at the trials.
Braun said, "It's like now we are taking the program to a next level."
Poppell added, "The more athletes we have for the University of Arkansas and for the Hogs, achieving that status, and qualifying for that competition, the better the program is."
With more talent aiming for the Olympics, more talent might want to come and swim in Fayetteville.
Franklin said having Razorbacks swimming at the trials should have a positive effect on recruits, "Showing them that
this is what the program is all about and this is where you can get if you put your heart and your soul into it."
The U.S. Swimming Trials will be held from June 25th until July 2nd.
Click here for more on the Razorback swimming team.
