The Road to Nationals-Caroline Burckle
The Road to Nationals-Caqroline Burckle
National Teamer
Caroline Burckle, who in 2008 broke the oldest-standing women’s NCAA record in the 500-yard freestyle and won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, is already in the throes of intense training for
Nationals this summer. The former Florida Gator swimmer moved across the country last fall to Fullerton, California to train under Sean Hutchison and other National Teamers
Katie Hoff,
Margaret Hoelzer and
Ariana Kukors at FAST Swim Team.
After returning from the
National Team training camp in Chula Vista, California, Burckle chatted with Swimnetwork about the hard training still in front of her and how she stays motivated each season in this interview.
National Team Member: Caroline Burckle
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 20 miles
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 20 miles
First of all, how excited were you when Florida won the closely contested women’s title at NCAAs?
Caroline: I was very, very, very excited! I would have given anything to have been there to celebrate with them and let them know how proud I was. It was awesome and I am really, really happy for the program to have had the opportunity to do that.
Caroline: I was very, very, very excited! I would have given anything to have been there to celebrate with them and let them know how proud I was. It was awesome and I am really, really happy for the program to have had the opportunity to do that.
What’s it like training out in California now?
Caroline: I love it. It is definitely a change. I came from a big college team and now there are ten of us, but it’s a very focused group. Every day that we go in there and everyone has such dominate personalities that we have a blast together. Sean is awesome; I’m really looking forward to continuing on in everything. I think it is one of those things that at first we started this team from scratch – there were four of us then – and now we’re building a team. It’s kind of exciting to be the pioneers to do something that.
Caroline: I love it. It is definitely a change. I came from a big college team and now there are ten of us, but it’s a very focused group. Every day that we go in there and everyone has such dominate personalities that we have a blast together. Sean is awesome; I’m really looking forward to continuing on in everything. I think it is one of those things that at first we started this team from scratch – there were four of us then – and now we’re building a team. It’s kind of exciting to be the pioneers to do something that.
What kind of training are you focusing on now?
Caroline: Well we just got back from Chula Vista, so we’re all pretty tired right now. We’re bringing our focus back to working on our strokes and getting back into our routines. We have a really good weekly schedule of how we train, so we stick to that, which is awesome because your body is in tune with that. But right now we’re in pretty tough training before we taper for Nationals this summer.
Caroline: Well we just got back from Chula Vista, so we’re all pretty tired right now. We’re bringing our focus back to working on our strokes and getting back into our routines. We have a really good weekly schedule of how we train, so we stick to that, which is awesome because your body is in tune with that. But right now we’re in pretty tough training before we taper for Nationals this summer.
How was the training trip in Chula Vista?
Caroline: It was great. It was really cool to meet up with fellow National Team members. You don’t really ever get to see them, other than at meets. So it was nice to see where everyone was at, be normal, have fun and train with people and coaches you don’t usually get to train with.
Caroline: It was great. It was really cool to meet up with fellow National Team members. You don’t really ever get to see them, other than at meets. So it was nice to see where everyone was at, be normal, have fun and train with people and coaches you don’t usually get to train with.
What are you looking forward to for Nationals this summer?
Caroline: I’m looking forward to the experience in general. I think it is going to be really different, especially after the suit era we just got out of. The suit kind of changed swimming and now it will go back to how it was – genuine fast swimming. I think that will be pretty exciting for everybody. And for us [at FAST], the meet is just down the road so we don’t have to travel too far.
Caroline: I’m looking forward to the experience in general. I think it is going to be really different, especially after the suit era we just got out of. The suit kind of changed swimming and now it will go back to how it was – genuine fast swimming. I think that will be pretty exciting for everybody. And for us [at FAST], the meet is just down the road so we don’t have to travel too far.
Speaking of traveling, for long car rides, is there a snack or playlist that must accompany you?
Caroline: Definitely yes to the snack. I’m a big fan of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I would probably have six of those on a car ride. I’m also a bit fan of hip hop and R&B, so that would be my choice of music for the trip.
Caroline: Definitely yes to the snack. I’m a big fan of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I would probably have six of those on a car ride. I’m also a bit fan of hip hop and R&B, so that would be my choice of music for the trip.
If you could take a road trip anywhere and with anyone, who would you take and where would you go?
Caroline: It would definitely be with my brother. With the way that we are it would be pretty funny to just pick up and drive – have adventures without knowing where we were going, what we were going to do. Basically, to have no plans but have fun. I think that would be something that I would love to do.
Caroline: It would definitely be with my brother. With the way that we are it would be pretty funny to just pick up and drive – have adventures without knowing where we were going, what we were going to do. Basically, to have no plans but have fun. I think that would be something that I would love to do.
Do you have any particular goals for the meet in Irvine?
Caroline: In general I just want to have fun, that’s basically my goal now. If I have fun and I stayed focused, then no matter what I do, it was a success. That’s what we’ve been talking about this year with the team is your definition of success and what will get you there. I think that is something that we’re all figuring out and focusing on.
Caroline: In general I just want to have fun, that’s basically my goal now. If I have fun and I stayed focused, then no matter what I do, it was a success. That’s what we’ve been talking about this year with the team is your definition of success and what will get you there. I think that is something that we’re all figuring out and focusing on.
What else will you do to prepare for Nationals?
Caroline: We’re doing a lot of core body work, and I think it is really helping. We all do very different things, based on what works for us. Some people do yoga, others do more weights, spinning, running – things like that.
Caroline: We’re doing a lot of core body work, and I think it is really helping. We all do very different things, based on what works for us. Some people do yoga, others do more weights, spinning, running – things like that.
How do you stay focused and relaxed at big meets?
Caroline: I’m pretty social so what I usually do to stay calm is to talk to literally everybody. That keeps me remembering why I am there and that I am doing it because it is fun for me. I’m making friends and learning things about people along the way. That is what it is all about, especially now that I am done with college swimming.
Caroline: I’m pretty social so what I usually do to stay calm is to talk to literally everybody. That keeps me remembering why I am there and that I am doing it because it is fun for me. I’m making friends and learning things about people along the way. That is what it is all about, especially now that I am done with college swimming.
How do you stay energized to compete each season, especially now as a post grad?
Caroline: It’s definitely pretty tough. I struggled with being done with college swimming for a long time. It was tough for me because the team is such a huge deal to me and it was [the reason] why I always swam. When I had to reevaluate swimming for myself it was a lot harder because I had never really thought about why I did it. So, I just reevaluated and I thought ‘you know, I’m doing this because I love it and because I want to.’ Every day when I get up it’s for that reason and I remember my goals at the end of the road. And it’s not always about what’s going to happen [at the end], but it’s about the journey and your friends. That’s what you’ll remember. That’s what keeps me going; especially now with a brand new team. We have tons of fun together. We keep it fresh with new experiences.
Caroline: It’s definitely pretty tough. I struggled with being done with college swimming for a long time. It was tough for me because the team is such a huge deal to me and it was [the reason] why I always swam. When I had to reevaluate swimming for myself it was a lot harder because I had never really thought about why I did it. So, I just reevaluated and I thought ‘you know, I’m doing this because I love it and because I want to.’ Every day when I get up it’s for that reason and I remember my goals at the end of the road. And it’s not always about what’s going to happen [at the end], but it’s about the journey and your friends. That’s what you’ll remember. That’s what keeps me going; especially now with a brand new team. We have tons of fun together. We keep it fresh with new experiences.
