Contributor Josh Davis is a 5-time Olympic medalist and the Manager Partner the Mutual of Omaha BREAKout Swim Clinics, a SwimSwam partner.The longest running Olympian swim clinic tour, the Mutual of Omaha BREAKout! Swim Clinic tour, founded in 2007, wants to join forces with your team as part of their annual 100 city tour. Their roster of clinicians includes some of the greatest swimmers in history. This week, we focus on one of the fan favorites on the Mutual of Omaha Gold Medal Team, Elizabeth Beisel, who happens to turn 23 years old today. Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!
Q: Do you think there are benefits to being a female in the sport of swimming?
Beisel: Absolutely. I think as women in the sport we are able to inspire so many young girls and women to go after their goals even if they are afraid to do so. Sports is a very male-dominated industry, so it means a lot when little girls look up to me or my teammates and use us as inspiration to pursue their dreams.
Q: What was your number one reason for starting to swim?
Beisel: I grew up in the Ocean State, so being safe around the water was something my parents were adamant about when I was a kid. Diving was my first sport, but I was so bad that even my mom was suggesting "hey, maybe the swim team will work out better for you." I'm really glad I chose to swim as it has turned out pretty well.
Q: What is one of your favorite moments in the sport?
Beisel: One of my favorite moments would have to be making my first Olympic team. I have won plenty of medals and broken plenty of records, but the happiness I experienced when I made my first team in 2008 is second to none. As a little girl, all I ever wanted to do was compete on the Olympics. When that dream finally turned into reality, it was one of the best days of my life.
Q: What is one of your favorite birthdays?
Beisel: My favorite birthday would have to be my 21st. That's a fun birthday for obvious reasons, but it was truly special for me because it was the first birthday I was able to spend at home with my best friends in Rhode Island since high school. Being surrounded by friends and family always makes a birthday that much more special.
Q: If you could pick one reason someone should consider being a swimmer, what would it be? Share a memory where this was true for you.
Beisel: If I could give someone a reason to become a swimmer, it would be related to all of the friends you make. I was recently in Montenegro for a Speedo photo shoot, and I had a moment while I was there thinking about how incredible the sport of swimming has been to me. I have friends and relationships with people from around the world that will last forever. I have traveled to dozens of countries and have seen so many things that most sports cannot give you. The relationships you form through swimming are ones that last forever, and being able to one day walk away from the sport with the friends I have now has made this journey all worth it.
Q: Do you ever get discouraged with your training; if so, what do you do when those moments happen?
Beisel: I get discouraged all the time! Training is so hard no matter where you swim or what event. It is a constant awareness inside and outside of the pool, and it's hard to maintain that consistently. I try to always remind myself that hard work ALWAYS pays off. For the most part it does, but if you have an off season or year, you need to get back up and start fresh and remind yourself that it will all be worth it.
Q: Any advice for swimmers in college and advice preparing for an Olympic year?
Beisel: My 2012 Olympic year was also my sophomore year in college. Many people jump to red shirting, but for me I think it was a blessing I competed for Florida that year. It kept me distracted from constantly thinking about the Olympics and it kept my mind fresh throughout the year. If you decide to redshirt or train solely for the Olympics, make sure it doesn't consume you completely. It's a daunting event to train for, so make sure you have something else on the side as an outlet to get away from the sport when you need to.
Help your swimmers BREAKout! this next season with Elizabeth Beisel by going to www.breakoutswimclinic.com
Upcoming events with Elizabeth Beisel:
Sept 26th NJ SwimposiumSept 27th Beckley, WVOct 17th Mahwah, NJMore Mutual of Omaha BREAKout! Swim Clinic Events for fall of 2015:
Aug 29th McMurray, PA Anthony Ervin & Josh DavisAug 29th Washington, UT Matt & Annie GreversAug 30th Platte City, MO Jimmy Feigen & Josh DavisSept 6th Chicago, IL Matt & Annie Grevers and Josh DavisSept 12th Houston, TX Breeja LarsonSept 13th Brunswick, ME Jason LezakSept 13th Hudson, MN Michael AndrewSept 19th Greenville, SC Breeja Larson, Tyler Clary and Ian CrockerSept 19th Pittsburgh, PA Matt McLean, Kate Ziegler, Giles Smith, Kathleen HerseySept 26th Branchburg, NJ Elizabeth BeiselSept 26th Milwaukee, WI Jason Lezak Josh DavisSept 27th Beckley, WV Ian Crocker and Elizabeth BeiselOct 3rd San Francisco Ian Crocker and Caitlin LeverenzOct 10th NJ with Caitlin LeverenzOct 10th Cherry Hill, NJ Dana Vollmer and Josh DavisOct 10th Chicago Matt GreversOct 18th Dubuque, IA Jason Lezak Josh DavisOct 23rd Traverse City, MI Josh Davis
Some of the other athletes available through the Mutual of Omaha BREAKout! Swim Clinics:
Women:
- Allysa Anderson
- Haley Anderson
- Amanda Beard
- Elizabeth Beisel
- Karlee Bispo
- Elaine Breeden
- Caroline Burckle
- Maya DiRado
- Janet Evans
- Margo Geer
- Annie Grevers
- Kathleen Hersey
- Margaret Hoelzer
- Misty Hyman
- Lara Jackson
- Lacy Nymeyer John
- Madison Kennedy
- Kristy Kowal
Jason Lezak
Dagny Knutson
- Ariana Kukors
- Breeja Larson
- Caitlin Leverenz
- Christine Magnuson
- Stephanie Rice
- Megan Romano
- Allison Schmitt
- Laura Sogar
- Kim Vandenberg
- Shannon Vreeland
- Kate Ziegler
- Michael Andrew
- Randall Bal
- Ricky Berens
- Clark Burckle
- Tyler Clary
- Ian Crocker
- Josh Davis
- Hans Dersch
- Conor Dwyer
- Anthony Ervin
- Jimmy Feigen
Michael Andrew and Peter Andrew (courtesy of Keith Allen)
Rowdy Gaines
- Mark Gangloff
- Andrew Gemmell
- Eugene Godsoe
- Matt Grevers
- Brendan Hansen
- Dax Hill
- Charlie Houchin
- Cullen Jones
- Jason Lezak
- Ryan Lochte
- Mike McBroom
- Matt McLean
- Alex Meyer
- Cody Miller
- Aaron Peirsol
- David Plummer
- Eric Risolvato
- Josh Schneider
- Giles Smith
- Scott Spann
- Davis Tarwater
- Darian Townsend
- Peter Vanderkaay
About Josh Davis
2000 Olympics
Silver 400m freestyle relay
Silver 800m freestyle relay
Gold 400m freestyle relay
Gold 800m freestyle relay
Gold 400m medley relayFollow Josh Davis on Twitter here.
Fan the Mutual of Omaha BREAKOUT Swim Clinic on Facebook here.
Mutual of Omaha BREAKOUT Swim Clinic HQ.
Become the Ultimate Swimmer. See here.
In This Story
- Amanda Beard
Amanda Beard
- Conor Dwyer
Conor Dwyer
- Elizabeth Beisel
Elizabeth Beisel
- Jimmy Feigen
Jimmy Feigen
- Madison Kennedy
Madison Kennedy
- Michael Andrew
Michael Andrew
- Ryan Lochte
Ryan Lochte
- Tyler Clary
Tyler Clary
9
Leave a Reply
9
I agree. “Do you think there are benefits to being a female in the sport of swimming?” Is pigeonholing a PR answer out of such a normally candid, insightful, and intelligent athlete.
I was hoping this article would be an actual Q&A session, rather than a press release, because I am a fan of Ms. Beisel and I was hoping for information re: whether she has fully recovered from her injuries. I’m sure I’m not the only person here who would REALLY enjoy watching a series of Skype interviews of Team USA conducted by Swimswam staff, that would tell us a little about how they felt about the 2014 season and their physical/mental state leading into the Olympic year. I remember watching a video like that with Claire Donahue following the upheaval at WKU, so I know such interviews are within the realm of possibility for this website. Please consider such a… Read more »
Insightful point about red-shirting vs. sticking with a college season leading up to OT.
I imagine for many there is a benefit from taking a break from school and scy racing for a year, but for some 20-ish year olds, the “distraction” of swimming fast for reasons other than making the O’s and maintaining a more familiar school/social routine is good for mental health and general well-being. Provided there is a history of being able to return to the big-girl/big-boy pool in April ready to race, as EB had demonstrated going into 2012.
At age 21 one can legally drink alcohol in the USA.
Question from a non American.
She says her favorite birthday was her 21st, “a fun birthday for obvious reasons”.
What is “obvious”?
That’s the legal age in America to start drinking.
Thanks. I thought there was something about alcohol but I was not sure.
However, I don’t think most of young Americans wait until their 21st birthday to start drinking alcohol. 😆
Bobo Gigi you are correct. Oddly though, even for those who have drank before, a 21st birthday is an excuse to go out and get extra crazy and make everyone buy you drinks!
Love Beisel. Talented and funny girl.
I hope she will be fully healthy to prepare Rio and be a gold medal contender there.
Hosszu is not unbeatable in the 400 IM.