NewsStudent LifeFaculty/StaffPre-K to 8Service
Fourth grader sets sights on Olympics
Feb 1, 2003 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
Nine-year-old Olympic hopeful Kristopher Bryant is a fourth grade Darlington student, and though young, he has proven his dedication to swimming. Already a first place winner in numerous competitions, much of Kristopher’s success is owed to his parents, who drive him the full 90 mile round trip to Kennesaw, where he practices with the Kennesaw Tidal Waves swim team.
Kristopher began swimming at the age of six months, when he was first exposed to water. When he was four and a half, he joined the Great White Sharks, a swim team for five- and six-year-olds at the Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta. Kristopher’s victories over six- and seven-year olds when he was five showed the potential he had, and he continued his hobby by competing in the Dunwoody Country Club Swim Team, where he rarely placed lower than first in any of his events.
When the Bryant family moved to Rome two and a half years ago, Kristopher began competing in the Three Rivers Swim Club, the local USA Swimming club, throughout second and third grade continuing his winning streak in competitions. Kristopher had advanced beyond the skills of his own grade group, but he did not relish the idea of working out with high school swimmers. Then, last summer, Kristopher joined the Carpet Capital Aquatic Club in Dalton, Ga. The league offered him the chance to participate in a more relaxed level of competition, and Kristopher’s parents drove him the 120-200 mile distances to the swim meets.
This year, Kristopher switched from the Three Rivers Team in Rome to the Kennesaw Tidal Waves team, where he practices during the week. On Saturdays, he swims at the Mountain View Aquatics Center in Marietta, Ga. Kristopher has Olympic aspirations, so his parents are building a training pool behind their home to allow Kristopher to spend even more time in the pool and less time in the car.
Kristopher began swimming at the age of six months, when he was first exposed to water. When he was four and a half, he joined the Great White Sharks, a swim team for five- and six-year-olds at the Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta. Kristopher’s victories over six- and seven-year olds when he was five showed the potential he had, and he continued his hobby by competing in the Dunwoody Country Club Swim Team, where he rarely placed lower than first in any of his events.
When the Bryant family moved to Rome two and a half years ago, Kristopher began competing in the Three Rivers Swim Club, the local USA Swimming club, throughout second and third grade continuing his winning streak in competitions. Kristopher had advanced beyond the skills of his own grade group, but he did not relish the idea of working out with high school swimmers. Then, last summer, Kristopher joined the Carpet Capital Aquatic Club in Dalton, Ga. The league offered him the chance to participate in a more relaxed level of competition, and Kristopher’s parents drove him the 120-200 mile distances to the swim meets.
This year, Kristopher switched from the Three Rivers Team in Rome to the Kennesaw Tidal Waves team, where he practices during the week. On Saturdays, he swims at the Mountain View Aquatics Center in Marietta, Ga. Kristopher has Olympic aspirations, so his parents are building a training pool behind their home to allow Kristopher to spend even more time in the pool and less time in the car.
