How did you get interested in swimming?
My daughter swam in high school, and I managed her team. Ironically, I was terribly afraid of the water. So, I signed-up for a clinc.
How long have you been swimming with ARMS?
Three years.
How often do you swim?
Three times a week.
Do your kids swim?
My older daughter swam in high school and college, and my younger daughter swam in high school.
Does your husband swim?
Rarely. Since we‘re from California, we swim outside. If and when he swims in the rain, he says he feels like a Navy Seal. (Yeah, and I‘m Katie Ledeceky.)
Where did you grow up?
Chicago, but I lived in Northern California for the most of my adult life.
Before you retired, what did you do?
I worked in corporate America for 22 years, then became a Pilates instructor and studio owner.
What do you do these days?
I teach Pilates.
Describe your pre-practice routine.
I stretch my arms and legs.
Post-practice?
I stretch my arms and legs.
On a scale of one to 10, how hard do you typically work in practice?
Eight to nine.
Tugging on the lane line: Every now and then, or never?
Only once in awhile. A lot when when kicking on my back.
Do you do the full 500 for warm-up, or do you follow the crowd?
Follow the crowd (since I’m usually behind).
How do you decide which lane to swim in?
It’s obvious.
Do you stop after the last set, or do you warm down?
I warm down.
Long course, or short course? Why?
Either. Long course for Masters, since it’s easier to spread out, but I do like sprinting in yards.
Favorite drill? Why?
Catch up. It’s what I need to work on the most.
Least-favorite drill? Why?
Any kick drill, since it takes a lot out of you.
Favorite practice of the week?
I swim with Masters only on Sundays. During the week, I do a (semi) sprint set.
Favorite pro swimmer?
Kate Douglass, because her team gives out rubber duckies for success. After she won gold at the Paris Olmypics, they gave him a huge duck.
What’s your one big (swimming) goal for 2026?
To learn backstroke!
Any upcoming meets?
No. (I’ve never competed before.)
What’s your biggest pet peeve about swim etiquette?
People who do flip turns in the center of the wall.
What do you love most about swimming?
You work your body and mind equally.
What do you think about while in the water?
How to incorporate Pilates into making my stroke more efficient.
Jonathan Rick, a freelance ghostwriter, is a lifelong swimmer who’s written for SwimSwam, attended Olympic Trials, and already booked tickets for LA28.