Cool in the pool: Missoula youth swim with some of biggest names in sport
By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian
Chowing down on a slice of pizza during lunch break at a swimming clinic at the University of Montana on Sunday, Tomas Sodini was about as happy as a 13-year-old with Olympic dreams could be.
He's a backstroker, and most weeks he's in UM's Grizzly Pool at 5:30 a.m., before trundling off to Washington Middle School, and he's back in the water after school and on Saturdays.
It's a tough schedule, but he knows that's what it takes if you want to be a world champion.
Few people understand the commitment it takes to reach for a goal such as the Olympics, which is why on Sunday, Sodini and his friends had one of the best days of their young swimming lives.
Olympic gold medalist Aaron Peirsol, right, signs autographs for young swimmers at a clinic at the University of Montana on Sunday. Peirsol was joined by fellow big-name swimmers Neil Walker, Jeri Moss and Missoula native David Cromwell for the clinic. Photo by TOM BAUER/Missoulian
For the entire day, members of the Missoula Aquatic Club were coached by some of the biggest names in the world of competitive swimming.
Aaron Peirsol, an American backstroker and winner of two gold medals and a silver at the Beijing Olympics in August was there, along with Olympic and World Championships medalist Neil Walker, NCAA champion and World Championships medalist Jeri Moss, and David Cromwell, Missoula's homegrown U.S. national champion and seven-time All-American.
“They are all really nice, and Aaron is really cool,” Sodini said.
All the pointers the swimming stars doled out were helpful, Sodini said, but the best part of the day was talking to them in person - especially Peirsol.
“We all do the same drills, and it's nice to know he does them, too,” Sodini said. “Seeing him and hearing that makes him more human. When I saw him on television, I imagined during the Olympics that he was a superstar and untouchable.
“But he's here - and he's cool.”
Before getting mobbed for autographs during lunch, Peirsol said he's happy and honored to do his part to promote the sport that has given him so much, which is why he agreed to return to Missoula for the club's third annual clinic.
“It's cool to come back and see how some of these swimmers have really improved,” Peirsol said. “There's a lot of talent, and they certainly have a good enough coach - (Olympian) Dave Berkoff.”
His star-studded company of Walker, Moss and Cromwell, he said, all benefitted from medal-winning mentors when they were young and know the importance of being encouraged.
“We were all this age at one point,” Peirsol said. “We can help these young swimmers understand that, and know that we understand what they are going through - and we can tell them, ‘You can be the best in the world if you put your mind to it.' ”
The annual clinic was Cromwell's idea, hatched as a way to stay connected to his hometown.
“I realize I've been away from Missoula for six years now, and this my community,” he said. “I want to help make it better, and this is my way - by bringing my friends and helping the kids here.
“Neil, Jeri and Aaron are not just great swimmers - they are great people and great role models.”
Because of the U.S. swimmers' dominance in Beijing and Michael Phelps' record eight gold medals in a single Olympics, teams across the country have since doubled and tripled in size, Walker said.
“It's our job now to keep the ball rolling,” Walker said. “We want to keep the momentum going and keep promoting a sport we all love dearly.”
Stella Shannon, 12, said she was inspired by the stories each of the swimmers told before everyone got in the pool for laps.
“They talked about how hard work pays off, even it doesn't seem like it sometimes,” she said. “They all have had some big losses, and at the time they thought they were failures. But they all said those losses were some of the most important experiences in their lives because it inspired them to do better.”
Like Shannon, 12-year-old Patrick Martyak said it was fun to be in the company of the famous swimmers.
“It was exciting to meet them,” Martyak said. “It shows us they are regular people, too - they exist. And it's just nice to know they have come here and are willing to give up their time to be with us.”
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com.
