The Road to Nationals-Leisel Jones
The Road to Nationals-Leisel Jones
In 2008, Rebecca Soni’s break out 200m breaststroke in Beijing set the world record and upset gold medal favorite Leisel Jones of Australia. In 2009, Soni won her fourth consecutive NCAA title in the 200yd breaststroke, set a world record in the 100m breaststroke at World Championships and won the Golden Goggle for Female Swimmer of the Year.
Now training with Dave Salo and other postgraduates at Trojan Swim Club, it looks like 2010 is gearing up to be another record-setting year. Soni picked up another Grand Prix meet record at the
Charlotte UltraSwim this past weekend and now has her sights set on the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships.
National Team Member: Rebecca Soni
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 35 miles
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 35 miles
How did you feel about your races at the Charlotte UltraSwim last week?
Rebecca: Really good. The racing turned out really well. My breaststroke events were right where they are supposed to be so I was really happy with it. The meet itself was a lot of fun and it was a great set up.
Rebecca: Really good. The racing turned out really well. My breaststroke events were right where they are supposed to be so I was really happy with it. The meet itself was a lot of fun and it was a great set up.
As a first timer to the Charlotte UltraSwim, what did you like most about the set up?
Rebecca: I really liked all the work that has gone on to make it more than just a swim meet. It’s not just the prize money, but also the foundations and how they got athletes involved with those foundations.
Rebecca: I really liked all the work that has gone on to make it more than just a swim meet. It’s not just the prize money, but also the foundations and how they got athletes involved with those foundations.
Was there a specific race that you particularly enjoyed?
Rebecca: Probably the 200 breaststroke. It’s been my event for a long time now so I enjoyed sticking to the basics.
Rebecca: Probably the 200 breaststroke. It’s been my event for a long time now so I enjoyed sticking to the basics.
What meets do you have coming up between now and Nationals?
Rebecca: We’re doing the Speedo Grand Challenge out in Irvine in two weeks and then right after that we’ll leave for the Mare Nostrum circuit in Europe. After that, I’ll compete in the LA Grand Prix and then Nationals.
Rebecca: We’re doing the Speedo Grand Challenge out in Irvine in two weeks and then right after that we’ll leave for the Mare Nostrum circuit in Europe. After that, I’ll compete in the LA Grand Prix and then Nationals.
Is there anything in particular that you’d like to accomplish at those meets?
Rebecca: The UltraSwim was my biggest focus swimming-wise before Nationals. The Mare Nostrum is a chance to get away for a while since Nationals and Pan Pacs are so close to home since I live in LA. From here on out it’ll be mostly focusing on Nationals.
Rebecca: The UltraSwim was my biggest focus swimming-wise before Nationals. The Mare Nostrum is a chance to get away for a while since Nationals and Pan Pacs are so close to home since I live in LA. From here on out it’ll be mostly focusing on Nationals.
Since we’re on the topic of travel, do you have a favorite road trip memory from the past?
Rebecca: The first thing that popped into my head was when we were younger, before the swimming days we took a bunch of road trips with the family. We lived in New Jersey and we would drive either up north to Pennsylvania or even further to Vermont or Maine to go skiing. We would do those trips a lot and I always remember that we’d stop in certain places, like a certain McDonalds every time we went and it was just those little things that I remember. We don’t get to do those vacations anymore now that swimming is a year-round thing so I just cherish those memories a lot.
Rebecca: The first thing that popped into my head was when we were younger, before the swimming days we took a bunch of road trips with the family. We lived in New Jersey and we would drive either up north to Pennsylvania or even further to Vermont or Maine to go skiing. We would do those trips a lot and I always remember that we’d stop in certain places, like a certain McDonalds every time we went and it was just those little things that I remember. We don’t get to do those vacations anymore now that swimming is a year-round thing so I just cherish those memories a lot.
You mentioned McDonalds as a favorite road trip food stop. If you had to be in a car for an extended period of time now, is there a specific snack that you would have to take with you?
Rebecca: I would definitely bring some fruit snacks because those are always fun to munch on and some kind of chocolate. For some reason when you go on a road trip it seems ok to eat junk food. (Laughs).
Rebecca: I would definitely bring some fruit snacks because those are always fun to munch on and some kind of chocolate. For some reason when you go on a road trip it seems ok to eat junk food. (Laughs).
With your focus now set on Nationals, how will your training change over the next two months?
Rebecca: I think it’ll be more of the same stuff. We kind of follow the same schedule as the college teams. When they came back from NCAAs and started to pick it up, that is when we picked it up also. We’re still pretty early into that phase, so it’ll be continuing on with all the hard work we just started a couple of weeks ago.
Rebecca: I think it’ll be more of the same stuff. We kind of follow the same schedule as the college teams. When they came back from NCAAs and started to pick it up, that is when we picked it up also. We’re still pretty early into that phase, so it’ll be continuing on with all the hard work we just started a couple of weeks ago.
What are your goals for Nationals?
Rebecca: Definitely making the Pan Pac team and World Champs next year. I’d say that is the most important part of the meet.
Rebecca: Definitely making the Pan Pac team and World Champs next year. I’d say that is the most important part of the meet.
What are you looking forward to about Nationals?
Rebecca: I’m looking forward to having it here in Irvine. It’ll be nice being so close to home. Every Nationals is a really fun meet where you get to see your friends and teammates from the past. I’m excited to see my coach from home in New Jersey – I probably haven’t seen him since last year at Nationals.
Rebecca: I’m looking forward to having it here in Irvine. It’ll be nice being so close to home. Every Nationals is a really fun meet where you get to see your friends and teammates from the past. I’m excited to see my coach from home in New Jersey – I probably haven’t seen him since last year at Nationals.
How do you stay energized to compete each season? Has that changed with the transition from collegiate to professional athlete?
Rebecca: It’s a whole new game now. It’s exciting in a whole new way and is completely different than it was when I was in high school and then again when I was in college. I’ve only been out of college for one year now so it’s still new and exciting.
Rebecca: It’s a whole new game now. It’s exciting in a whole new way and is completely different than it was when I was in high school and then again when I was in college. I’ve only been out of college for one year now so it’s still new and exciting.
