The Road to Nationals-Ariana Kukors

 

 

Courtesy of Swimnetwork.com

 

ConocoPhillips presents The Road to Nationals, a year-long series in which Swimnetwork will follow National Teamers from January onwards as they look forward to the summer's biggest meet: the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships.

 

 

 

The Stats:
Name: Ariana Kukors
Age: 21 (June 1, 1989)
Club: Fullerton Aquatics Sport Team (FAST)
Distance to the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 15 miles

Training and Travel Snap Shot:

Favorite Training Set: In preparation for going out strong in a 400 IM and building confidence, Kukors does three to six rounds of 200-freestyle pull, 200-butterfly pull and 100-backstroke pull continuously

Least Favorite Training Set: No one set in particular but tries to go into everything with an optimistic attitude

Swimming Road Trip Must-Have Item: Organic chocolate milk for post-race recover and Starbucks double shots for post-nap wake ups

Favorite Swimming Road Trip: First time traveling for a Zones meet in Hawaii

The Story:

Nearly 10 years ago at the age of 12, Ariana Kukors got her first taste of what it is like to travel with a team. She was representing Pacific Northwest Swimming at the Western Zone Championships and headed with her Washington teammates to the Aloha State. 

“That was definitely my first big meet and I thought it was the coolest thing because it was my first road trip with a team and we were on our way to Hawaii,” Kukors said. “My family also got to come so we turned it into a vacation.”

Fast-forward a few years when, in 2008, Kukors just missed a trip to Beijing by placing third in the 200 IM by less than one tenth of a second. Frustrated but not deterred, Kukors kept on training. She earned a spot on the  2009 World Championship team as a member of the 800 freestyle relay. In Rome, she was handed a career-changing opportunity. Teammate  Elizabeth Pelton had to withdraw from the 200 IM, leaving the spot open. Kukors not only stepped up for Team USA, she also beat Australian superstar and defending Olympic champion Stephanie Rice, setting a World Record in the process.

After her break-out performances at Worlds, Kukors moved her training from Seattle to Fullerton, California to swim for Fullerton Aquatic Sports Team (FAST).

“The team is great,” Kukors said. “My teammates are absolutely incredible. I am surrounded by Olympians, National Champions and World Record holders on a daily basis and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.”

The move has paid off. Kukors recently returned from Canet, France where she set the Mare Nostrum series meet record in the 200 IM.

“It was my first time going there and it was a lot of fun,” said Kukors. “We had a great US group and it was nice to race with at this point in my training.”

With only the  Los Angeles Grand Prix left before Nationals, Kukors is focused on racing.

“I’m just excited to get on the blocks,” Kukors said. “I haven’t been to this meet in six years so I am looking forward to switching from training mode to race mode.”

When asked about her goals for Nationals and what has motivated her through tough times, Kukors said that after missing the 2008 Olympic team her attitude toward swimming changed.

“I now try to do the best I can and taking advantage of every opportunity,” she said. “The Olympic Trials really gave me a different perspective on my swimming career. When I stop having fun that is when I will stop swimming, but right now I enjoy the people I swim with and I enjoy racing. That is what motivates me.”

With that motivated mindset and supportive elite training group at FAST, perhaps team trips to Shanghai for the 2011 World Championships and London Olympics in 2012 are on the horizon for this world champion.