NewsAthleticsStudent LifeAcademicsSwim and Dive
Bryant named state champ in 100-meter fly
Aug 21, 2008 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Michael Phelps isn’t the only one who knows what it’s like to swim 17 races within the span of a few days. A fiercely competitive swimmer who has trained since the age of 4, Darlington sophomore Kristopher Bryant is used to that sort of schedule. And it has definitely paid off for Bryant, who earned one gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the Georgia State Championship meet, held July 17-20 in Savannah, Ga.
“My favorite race to swim is probably the 100-meter butterfly,” said Bryant, the current state champion in that event. “It’s the kind of event where you have to get into a fast but strong rhythm to be able to move most efficiently. I guess I just like the way it feels when I’m swimming it.”
At the meet, Bryant’s times for both the 100-meter butterfly and the 100-meter breast stroke earned him “T-16” times, placing him among the fastest 16 swimmers in the United States for those events. “Achieving a time that gets me nationally ranked is always a thrill,” he said,” and when I get a T-16 time in an event that I am usually not very good at, I’m always happy. Although I only achieved a couple of T-16s at this particular meet, I finished the year with a handful.”
In order to build on his own success, Bryant sets goals for himself throughout each season. “Every time I accomplish one of my goals, I’m proud of what I have done,” he said. “The majority of them are times I want to achieve by the end of the year. Occasionally, a goal might be something along the lines of winning or making the finals at a meet.”
Bigger goals for Bryant include swimming on scholarship in college and – like every American swimmer – making the U.S. Olympic Team like his role model Michael Phelps. “Michael Phelps is the greatest person to ever compete in the sport,” said Bryant, who competes under the same organization as Phelps, USA Swimming. “He continues to amaze not just his fellow swimmers, but people all over the world.”
Bryant added that his coach, Jim McGinnis, has also been an inspiration to him throughout his swimming career. Training six days a week year-round with the Tidal Waves Swim Club in Kennesaw, Ga., Bryant stays focused on the prize. During the summer, he is in the water by 6 a.m. and often swims again in the late afternoon. Throughout the school year, he slows down to one 2.5-hour practice per day. And when a big meet is coming up, practices actually become shorter and easier.
While swimming is definitely time consuming, Bryant says it’s all worth it in the end. “Balancing swimming with academics is definitely a difficult task,” he said. “In order to finish all of my school work, I have to use my free time at school wisely. Sometimes I study in the car, and when I get home from swim practice I’m usually awake for a long time doing homework. But I love swimming. I wouldn’t change anything.”
Kristopher is the son of Genevieve Frazier of Kingston, Ga., and Michael E. Bryant of London.
“My favorite race to swim is probably the 100-meter butterfly,” said Bryant, the current state champion in that event. “It’s the kind of event where you have to get into a fast but strong rhythm to be able to move most efficiently. I guess I just like the way it feels when I’m swimming it.”
At the meet, Bryant’s times for both the 100-meter butterfly and the 100-meter breast stroke earned him “T-16” times, placing him among the fastest 16 swimmers in the United States for those events. “Achieving a time that gets me nationally ranked is always a thrill,” he said,” and when I get a T-16 time in an event that I am usually not very good at, I’m always happy. Although I only achieved a couple of T-16s at this particular meet, I finished the year with a handful.”
In order to build on his own success, Bryant sets goals for himself throughout each season. “Every time I accomplish one of my goals, I’m proud of what I have done,” he said. “The majority of them are times I want to achieve by the end of the year. Occasionally, a goal might be something along the lines of winning or making the finals at a meet.”
Bigger goals for Bryant include swimming on scholarship in college and – like every American swimmer – making the U.S. Olympic Team like his role model Michael Phelps. “Michael Phelps is the greatest person to ever compete in the sport,” said Bryant, who competes under the same organization as Phelps, USA Swimming. “He continues to amaze not just his fellow swimmers, but people all over the world.”
Bryant added that his coach, Jim McGinnis, has also been an inspiration to him throughout his swimming career. Training six days a week year-round with the Tidal Waves Swim Club in Kennesaw, Ga., Bryant stays focused on the prize. During the summer, he is in the water by 6 a.m. and often swims again in the late afternoon. Throughout the school year, he slows down to one 2.5-hour practice per day. And when a big meet is coming up, practices actually become shorter and easier.
While swimming is definitely time consuming, Bryant says it’s all worth it in the end. “Balancing swimming with academics is definitely a difficult task,” he said. “In order to finish all of my school work, I have to use my free time at school wisely. Sometimes I study in the car, and when I get home from swim practice I’m usually awake for a long time doing homework. But I love swimming. I wouldn’t change anything.”
Kristopher is the son of Genevieve Frazier of Kingston, Ga., and Michael E. Bryant of London.
