NP’s John Pidkowich interviewed Canadian Olympic swimmer Alexa Komarnycky during some recent “down time” after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

John Pidkowich: “How did you come to qualify for the Canadian Olympic Swim Team?”

Alexa Komarnycky – “To become a member of the Olympic Team, an athlete needs to meet Canadian national standards in order to qualify for Olympic trials competition, meet certain Olympic standards and win a place near the top, such as first or second spot. I qualified to swim at national level meets since I was 13 years old. I swam at the 2004 Olympic trials and came in the top 8. At the beginning of April at the 2008 Olympic trials, I knew I made the team “as soon as I touched the wall” in the 400m inline-stroke competition. My Olympic Training routine remained on the same schedule, where I warmed up and trained the same way, treated just like training for Olympic trials. Team bonding activities brought the team together but there were no different training patterns.”

– Is it best to train when competing against someone else or against one’s own personal best time, goals?

In training, it’s better to train with people at my level and my speed … I and one of my friends trained for the same events and competed against each other, pushing each other a lot.”

– For these Olympics, was there anything that you were not prepared for or did not expect?

I was overwhelmed but I tried to help myself prepare for the ‘huge atmosphere’ in being at the Olympics … coping with it and trying not to be nervous was really hard but I can say that I thought that I did my best.

– You are wearing a “gold” Olympic ring, what was your result and standing at the 2008 Olympics.

The Olympic Committee gave the rings to team members – I went in to the Olympics as 23^rd in world standing. Then, after competition, I dropped down a few spots to ‘twenty-something’.

– Were the Beijing facilities built to what they were billed to be?

They were absolutely amazing, the Village was ‘really cool’, with plenty of water on tables, 24 hour cafeteria with every type of food you could think of …and the pool was just a short bus ride away from the Village.

– How did you remain in shape by training?

First, (July 24-August 4) we went to Singapore for a staging camp, at Singapore Sports School, where we stayed and trained in their pool. When we went to Beijing, swimming activities filled was our first week there …We could not attend the Opening Ceremonies because we were competing the very next day and needed to stay out of the heat. Swimming events were held from the first day of competitions at the Olympics and were completed by August 18 …I competed one day, on August 9. Then, we all stayed for the remainder of the Olympics until August 25^th continuing with sightseeing, watching other sport events, shopping etc… All athletes attended the Closing Ceremonies on the last day.”

– What was the greatest benefit from being at the Olympics?

The experience of being there, knowing that every day is different, and better preparing me for the next Olympic Games – being better adjusted for at least one more [Olympics].”

– What was your rank by age on the Canadian Olympic Swim Team?

I was third youngest at 18. The oldest person was 27 and average age range to compete was between 18 to 22, 23 or 24.

– Where does the Canadian Olympic Swim Team Train, from one or many centres across the country?

The whole team usually does not train together. For example, I train locally with my coach Kevin Thorburn in Etobicoke. Swim meets provide team bonding activities. In Vancouver, we met and trained together as a team for ten days before going to training camp in Singapore. We’re not necessarily always together but we still represent Canada as a team!

– What got you interested in swimming?

I loved being in the water when I was younger. We moved close to the Etobicoke Olympium [in Toronto] and I have not stopped swimming since the age of three when my Mom put me in swimming lessons. I started swimming competitively when I was five years old.

– Does the school system allow you to train and meet as much as you need to or would like to?

I went to Silverthorn Collegiate where there is a high performance program. When I needed to go away for training meets, my teachers would help me organise my school work assignments around my schedule. I still carried a full school load.”

– Describe your typical training day, the hours you keep?

I train two hours in the morning, 5:30 to 7:30 am swimming lengths, two more hours in the water between 3:30 and 5:30 pm then another hour on land with weight training or running.

– What are your immediate and future activities after the Olympics?

I’m taking a year off from studies and continuing with my training, moving out to Victoria, BC with a new coach and different program. The following year, I’d like to go to school in the States and be part of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) activities. There are a lot schools [in the US] with good swim training programs from which to choose from… Much further down the road after university, I think I would like to be in Business.

– You are obviously very physically fit without an overweight problem. How would you encourage teens to get more involved in athletics and physical activity for better health?

Find out which sport activity you like and train at it for while, fully focused. Try different sports at first. When I was younger, I went into just about every sport and chose to stick with swimming.

– Are there any other sports you compete in or once competed in?

I really wish I had more time for volleyball, which I love but a few years ago I had to choose because competitions overlapped and it’s harder to focus on more than one sport.”

– Maybe thinking too far down the road, after your competitive days, how do you see yourself involved in the sport of swimming, possibly coaching younger athletes?

It’s still too far away to know right now but, I did have the experience of coaching younger teams (6-12 year olds) when training recently in Vancouver, just before the Olympics in Beijing.

Come out and support a representation of our Canadian Olympic Swim Team and other athletes (future Olympians?), cheer them on at the Canada Cup swim meet at the Etobicoke Olympian, November 28-30. For more information and other fundraising events visit the www.eswim.ca/olympian.html