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Jun 30, 2008 10:05 am US/Central
Olympic Hopes For Eden Prairie H.S. Swimmer
(WCCO)
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Rachel Bootsma will be facing some stiff competition this upcoming week in Omaha, Neb., where the trials are being held.
CBS
An incoming Eden Prairie freshman hits the pool Monday at the U.S. Olympic trials. Rachel Bootsma has spent countless hours in the water preparing herself for the next step.
"When I was little, I would just always float on my back, and I guess backstroke was just natural for me," said Bootsma.
Natural is right, at least as far as her time in the pool goes. Bootsma, 14, won a Class AA state title in the 100-yard backstroke this past winter as an eighth grader.
"I personally like it a little bit better because it's easier to breathe and you don't have to figure out where your stroke (is) or where you're gonna breathe," said Bootsma. "I just think it's easier, 'cause you can see the lanes around you and you don't have to see the competition next to you."
She will be facing some stiff competition this upcoming week in Omaha, Neb., where the trials are being held, and she is trying to take it all in stride.
"It's a little nerve racking I guess. I'm nervous but excited. It's going to be a good experience but ... I always get really nervous," said Bootsma.
Rachel's club coach, Kate Lundsten of the Aquajets, wants the young swimmer to enjoy the moment.
"We're going with the attitude that this is going to be a great time. We're going to have a fun time, we're going to see some of the best swimmers in the world compete, and we're going to compete against them," said Lundsten. "She needs to get the taste of what it's really like to be under that kind of pressure. And so this time, there's really no pressure -- just to go there and have a good time, swim fast and see what happens."
Bootsma practices 24 hours a week, and says her teammates and sister make it easy to have fun amidst all that hard work.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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