As the Olympic Trials are getting closer, this question of whether or not Erin is going to the Olympics is being asked more and more. What I have realized is that there are many different levels of understanding how the Olympic selection works. In addition, many of you who are new to the team may have never heard of Erin or understand what she does to compete this level. So I thought I would fill in the gaps.

Erin Sieper is now 16 years old. She started swimming on STOP when she was 9. STOP was her first and only team. I first starting coaching Erin in September of ‘95 at which time she was 10.

My first impression of Erin was one of bewilderment. Here was a 10 year old girl who did exactly what I told her to do, exactly how I wanted done. Yet she never said a word. She simply looked at me, and said, "OK." That was it. "OK" was all I ever heard from her for months. I had to be careful not to be too sarcastic with her, because if I told her to swim 10 laps holding on to her ankles without breathing, she would simply say, "OK" and go ahead and do it.

I couldn’t help but notice that fact that she seemed so unnoticeable, always doing what she was suppose to do all the time. I first thought that it must be me. Somehow I must be scaring her into doing what I want her to do. Then I thought, she must just be shy and intimidated by my loud obnoxious presence.

It took a couple of weeks but I realized is that it wasn’t that Erin was scared, shy, or intimidated, she simply had an amazing focus for a 10 year old. From day one, she paid attention to what was said, and worked on it. She constantly tried to do it better or faster. This characteristic is what would become her most significant factor for her success.

Over the years Erin has conquered many milestones and achieved many great things. A process that never ends for her because once she conquers them, she sets new goals and standards to work for.

Erin’s achievements are impressive. Currently she holds 38 STOP records. She annually has times which are on the National Top 16 list. She currently holds the Southern California Swimming Records for 15-16 girls in the 100 yard and 100 meter breastroke. She recently was named the CIF All American National Champion in the 100 breastroke.

Erin’s first opportunity to participate in Junior Nationals was when she was 12. She missed the cut by a tenth of a second. This would have been a significant accomplishment because of the rarity that a 12 year old goes to Juniors. However, she bounced back and qualified for the summer Junior Nationals at age 13. She has since participated in 4 Junior Nationals and 2 Senior Nationals. At her most recent Nations this past March, Erin earned 4th in the 100 breastroke.

Training for the Olympic Trials is something that Erin and I have been doing from day one. Her success now is the result of her efforts starting from age 10. It just has been this past year that we realized the what it means and what the work qualifies us for. She first qualified for the Olympic Trials last summer. We, I has her coach and workout partner have since maintained a very strict and demanding schedule. Our morning workouts start at 5:25 am and run until 7:00 am. Three days a week we swim, and two days a week we do dryland strength training. She works out in the evening from 5:00 – 7:30 every night. If there is not a swim meet on the weekend, then she also has practice on Saturday Morning. This past year Stacy Harutunian has joined the workout routine to help motivate Erin and to keep it fun for her. This has been a tremendous help for Erin.

To maintain this schedule, Erin has had to give up a lot. Dedication and commitment is a necessary part of any swimmers success. Erin has certainly demonstrated these qualities.

For Erin to make the Olympic Team, she must finish 1st or 2nd in her race at the Trials. Although she is swimming in both the 100 and 200 meter breastroke, her best event is the 100. She must first qualify to be in the Championship Finals (top 8 swimmers) during prelims. Prelims are on Thursday, August 10th. From prelims, the top swimmer’s ranked 9th through the 24th will compete in the semi-finals Thursday night. The top 8 will compete in the Finals on Friday night. From this race only, the top two swimmers will go to the Olympics.

The current American record holder is Megan Quann of Washington with a 1:07.94. Erin’s current time is a 1:10.68. At this time Erin ranks 7th among American athletes. She finished 4th at Nationals in March. She finished 3rd at the Janet Evans Invitational this past week. Her 100 yard time would of placed her 1st in the Division I NCAA meet.

Throughout these past 7 years of her swimming career, Erin has remained dedicated to her sport and to her team. This is significant because is it rare. Very few of the athletes at Olympics Trials will be representing the team from which they started from. As most swimmers progress, they leave their smaller team for the larger more notorious ones. If you were to ask Erin what the worst thing about going to Nationals has been, her answer would be that she is there by herself. To Erin’s credit, she has not let the lure of other larger teams success interfere with her belief in her team. Erin is very proud to be a member of STOP and continually demonstrates her love for this team. STOP has recognized this in

Erin and supported her as she moves up the success ladder.

I believe that all the swimmers currently on STOP have a true role modal to look up to. It is my wish that they enjoy and admire Erin for what she has and will accomplish. For a team to have a swimmer go to Olympic Trials is a rare event. Especially for a team of our size. Whether Erin makes the Olympic Team or not, she has already secured my total respect and deserves nothing but admiration and support.

I have no doubt that Erin will have a successful event. She will proudly represent STOP. She will swim the fastest that she has ever swam before. All the work that she has done for the past few years will pay off. She will race and perform at her best. The Olympic Trials will certainly be her most competitive meet of her career thus far. But it is truly insignificant whether she makes the Olympic Team or not. Success has already been established. Erin has already won. If she makes the team then I will congratulate her. But as far as my expectations and for what I am hoping for, she has either already surpassed them or has given me everything that I have asked for and more. There is absolutely now way anything can change of how proud I am of her and how lucky I feel to be her coach. I suspect this to be true of all of STOP swimmers and families.