Leah Smith – od mlade nade NCAA-a do svetskog zlata
Leah Smith je mlada nada američkog plivanja. Na Olimpijskim igrama u Riju ove godine je osvojila bronzu na 400 metara slobodno, kao i zlato u štafeti na 4×200 slobodno. Juče je osvojila zlato na 800 slobodno na SP u Kanadi a pre samo dva dana za SwimOn je govorila o svojim pripremama za trku, iskustvu koje ima kao plivačica na Univerzitetu Virdžinija kao i o očekivanjima koje ima od svetskog prvenstva u Vindzoru na kome trenutno nastupa.
Scroll down if you want to read this interview in English…
SwimOn: Pripadaš porodici zaista sjajnih sportista. Zašto si se odlučila baš za plivanje?
Leah: Imam veliku istoriju sportista u mojoj porodici i postoji zaista mnogo sportova kojima su se bavili poput atletike, veslanja, fudbala, rvanja i bejzbola, ali plivanje je nešto od čega su skoro svi u mojoj porodici počeli. Moja mama ne ume da pliva, tako da sam većinu atletskih gena nasledila sa tatine strane. Moja mama je želala da svi naučimo da plivamo jer ona ne ume, a takođe je pazila da budemo bezbedni na bazenima i plaži.
SwimOn: Kako se pripremaš za trku?
Leah: Obično način na koji se pripremam za trku nije mnogo drugačiji od strategije bilo kog drugog plivača. Volim da imam dobro odrađene mesece treninga pre ključnog takmičenja da bih imala dosta samopouzdanja pred trku. Osim toga, vodim računa da imam dosta sna, da pijem velike količine vode, kao i da se dobro zagrejem taj dan.
SwimOn: Pored reprezentativnih nastupa, imaš priliku da plivaš za Univerzitet Virdžinija. Koliko se nastupi za reprezentaciju i univerzitet razlikuju?
Leah: Mislim da su univerzitetska i reprezentativna takmičenja potpuno različita, ali ja svakako volim da učestvujem i na jednim i na drugim. Kada se takmičite za svoju školu, tu nema nikakve individualne slave. NCAA takmičenja (takmičenja u kojima učestvuju univerzitetski i koledž timovi iz Amerike) su pre svega timskog duha. Vi provedete čitavu godinu trenirajući sa istim devojkama i na kraju sezone želite da svoju trku isplivate što bolje upravo zbog njih. Takmičenja na kojima predstavljam SAD su takođe timskog duha, ali tu se mnogo veći akcenat stavlja na osvajanje medalje što ih, na neki način, čini individualnijim od univerzitetskih.
SwimOn: U poslednje vreme se sve više uspešnih srpskih plivača odlučuje da karijeru nastavi na nekom od univerziteta u Americi. Možeš li da nam približiš svoje iskustvo univerzitetske plivačice? Da li si zadovoljna kako su usklađene tvoje školske i plivačke obaveze?
Leah: Moje dosadašnje iskustvo kao univerzitetske plivačice nije moglo da bude bolje. Mislim da sam odabrala savršeno mesto na kome ću moći svakodnevno da postavljam sebi nove izazove pre svega u akademskom smislu, ali takođe i da podignem svoju plivačku karijeru na viši nivo.Zaista mi je drago što postoji mnogo ljudi koji mi pomažu da uskladim sve svoje obaveze, što školske, što plivačke. Mislim da je ono najvažnije što me je plivanje na univerzitetu naučilo zapravo neverovatna organizacija vremena i pojačana radna etika jer sam konstatntno okružena veoma pametnim i motivisanim ljudima.
SwimOn: Da li imaš uzore u životu, neki plivač ili drugi sportista ili možda član porodice?
Leah: Imam zaista dosta uzora. Rekla bih da je verovatno moj prvi uzor moja sestra. Ona je tri godine starija od mene i plivala je na Univerzitetu Kolumbija. Ona me je naučila da vredno radim i pokazala mi sve mogućnosti koje ti plivanje nudi ukoliko se dovoljno potrudiš. Moji drugi uzori bi bili neki sjajni plivači poput Katie Hoff. Ugledala sam se na nju jer je ona bila sjajan dugoprugaš pre svega i oduvek sam želala da budem kao ona.
SwimOn: Da li imaš neke hobije, čime voliš da se baviš van bazena?
Leah: Kada ne treniram, volim da isprobavam nove restorane sa mojim prijateljima. Takođe, volim da putujem, mada nemam dovoljno vremena izuzev onog kada učestvujem na raznim plivačkim takmičenjima.
SwimOn: Kakva su tvoja očekivanja od predstojećeg svetskog prvenstva?
Leah: Trenutno sam na svetskom prvenstvu i zasada sam zadovoljna svojim rezultatima, ali se nadam da ću uspeti da iskoristim ovo prvenstvo kao dobro proveru za predstojeća NCAA i ACC takmičenja, kao i eventualno svetsko prvenstvo u Budimpešti sledećeg leta.
SwimOn: There are so many great athletes in your family. How and why did you decide to take on swimming?
Leah: I have a huge history of athletes in my family, and there are so many different sports represented like track, rowing, football, wrestling, and baseball, but swimming was something that almost all of my family members started out in. My mom actually can’t swim, so I got most of the athletic genes from my dad’s side. My mom wanted all of us to swim because she couldn’t, but she wanted us to be safe at pools and at the beach.
SwimOn: How do you prepare for a race?
Leah: Usually the way I prepare for a race is not much different than anyone else’s strategy. I like to have a good solid months of training in before a taper meet so that I can feel confident in my race. Other than that I like to focus on getting a lot of sleep, drinking plenty of water, and being focused in my warmup plans that day.
SwimOn: Beside international competitions, you swim for University of Virginia. What is the difference between university competitions and the ones when you represent your country?
Leah: I think that University competitions and international competitions are so different, but I love racing in both. When you are swimming for your school, there is not a lot of individual glory in it. NCAAs is truly a team race to the top. You spend all year long training with the same group of girls, and at the end of the season you really want to perform for them. Competitions where I compete for the USA are still about team, but the medal aspect makes it a lot more individual in a different way.
SwimOn: Lately, more and more young and successful Serbian swimmers have decided to continue their careers at universities in the USA. Can you describe your experience as a university swimmer? Are you satisfied with the sync between your school obligations and swimming training?
Leah: My experience as a University swimmer could not have gone any better. I think I picked a perfect place to challenge myself in the classroom first and foremost, and also take my swimming career to the next level. I love that there are so many people to help me figure out how I am going to fit everything like classes and practice into my schedule. I think that more than anything, University swimming has given me amazing time management skills and enhanced my work ethic immensely because I am constantly surrounded by very smart and motivated people.
SwimOn: Do you have a role model? Some swimmer or any other athlete or maybe a member of your family?
Leah: I have a lot of role models. I would say my first role model was probably my sister. She is three years older than me and swam at Columbia University. She taught me how to work hard, and showed me all of the great places that swimming can take you if you work hard enough. My other role models would include the great swimmers who came before me like Katie Hoff. I looked up to her for a while because she was an amazing distance swimmer among other events and I always wanted to be like her.
SwimOn: Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do when you don’t swim or train?
Leah: When I’m not training I love to try out new restaurants with my friends. Another thing I like to do is travel, although I don’t have very much time to travel outside of swim meets.
SwimOn: Do you have any expectations from the upcoming World Championships?
Leah: I am currently at the World Championships and I am pleased with my performances so far, but hoping to use this meet as momentum for my NCAA and ACC Championship season, and eventually for the World Championships in Budapest next summer.
