THE GREEK SWIMMER LYSI HALKIDES IN SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE

College Recruit Rankings Profile: Five-Star Lysi Halkides, Class of 2011 -- June 1, 2010

By Reed Shimberg

PHOENIX, Arizona, June 1. LYSI Halkides, a five-star recruit from the class of 2011, is the next subject in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings Profiles series. Halkides lives in Florida and swims for Fast Lane Aquatics.

She owns U.S. senior national cuts in the 100m (1:10.62) and 200m (2:30.42) breaststroke and the 200m (2:16.05) and 400m (4:45.68) IM. She competes for Greece due to her dual citizenship, as her father is Greek.

Halkides maintains her profile in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings.

What is your favorite set?
8x50's on 130; 8 each stroke 4 times through.

Least favorite set?
I try to not have a least favorite set, for I know that later on, I will benefit from all the hard work.

Have you committed to a college? If so, where? If not, where will you be taking your official visits?
No, I have not committed yet. I am looking at several universities, including the University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, Stanford, and others.

What is your favorite swimming-related memory?
Finaling in the 2009 World Cup Series in Moscow, Russia, and Berlin, Germany.

Who do you look up to in the world of swimming?
I have no idols. The only thing that matters is the clock. I am not competing with or against other swimmers; it's me against the clock.

What do you consider to be your breakthrough moment in swimming?
Going 4:45.68 in 400 IM at Junior Nationals in Seattle, Washington, in Aug. 2009, was a good moment. It encouraged me even more to work harder.

What is your daily schedule with school and practice and such?
Morning practices on M-W-F 5:30-7:30 am; evening practices M thru F 3:30-7:00 pm; and Sat 8:00-11:00 am. I am schooled through the Florida Virtual School so that I can travel and swim.

What are your long and short-term goals?
My short-term goal is to final in the European Championship this August—I will be swimming the 50 BR; 200 IM; and 400 IM. My long-term goal is to keep on enjoying swimming and improving. I do hope to make the London 2012 Olympics.

What is something that people wouldn't know about you?
I enjoy documentaries on TV.

What type of input do you have in your training (versus your coach)?
During heavy training season, my coach calls all the shots. When tapering, it's up to me to choose what to do depending on how my body feels.

What are you interested in studying in college?
I am considering the field of civil aviation and hope to become an airline pilot.

Why swimming?
Definitely, swimming has been the sport for me since very early. It motivates me because there are no limits as to what you can do. Swimming is not like any other sport. It's always you against yourself and you can always do better, no matter what. Besides, you get great tan lines and it keeps you cool in the summer.

Did you do other sports?
Yes, I did really well in golf, but I would rather not deal with the Florida summer heat out on the course.

What is your favorite food?
Sushi

What is your favorite movie?
Avatar

What keeps you motivated in the pool?
Knowing that I can always try harder so that I can be better and that I can always set new goals to achieve.

What opportunities has swimming opened up for you?
Swimming has given me health, direction, focus, discipline, self-esteem, confidence, work ethic, and the drive towards self-improvement. Traveling the world, meeting new people, and achieving my goals are welcome outcomes.

What do you want to get out of swimming?
Swimming allows me to challenge myself to pursue my maximum potential. Subsequently, I want to transfer everything I learn to other aspects of my life so that I can continually strive to be the best I can be.