WILLIAMSBURG– 757Swim has one of its own headed to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs later this month, where 15-year-old Anna Shnowske will have three days to eat, sleep, and train like an Olympian.
Shnowske qualified for the National Select Camp after placing second in Virginia in the 200-meter, earning a spot amongst the top ten 15-year-olds in the country.
“It was so exciting and a lot of hard work went into that meet. I was really pumped for that race and I went out and just did my best,” Shnowske said.
After placing second, Shnowske also earned a spot to compete at the Speedo Junior National Championships in Irvine, California. While at championships, she swam three events and also earned a new personal best in the 100-meter freestyle.
Swimmers were selected from the SWIMS database using their top time from the Sept. 1, 2022 through Aug. 31 qualifying period. The three fastest athletes in each event within the qualifying age restrictions are invited to the camp.
“I’m really excited and a little nervous. I’m not sure what it is going to be like. I’m really pumped to get to stay at the Olympic Training Site and excited to meet a lot of new swimmers and new friends,” Shnowske said.
Previous athletes who have attended National Select Camp include Katie Ledecky, Bobby Fine, Lilly King, Michael Andrew, Hali Flickinger, and Kieran Smith.
According to 757Swim Head Coach Morgan Cordle, Shnowske will gain knowledge from current U.S. National Team athletes on many subjects, including post-race recovery, drug and supplement rules, psychological training, nutrition, and race strategy.
“We are extremely proud to have Anna representing 757swim and Williamsburg, Virginia at the National Select Camp,” said Cordle. “The skills she will learn at this camp will stay with her forever, and I am excited to see how she will grow in the pool when she returns.”
Shnowske has big dreams for her life in the pool and is hoping this is not her last visit to the Olympic Training Center.
“I want to go to the Olympics, but right now I am working on getting my first trials cut. I want to hopefully compete in Olympic Trials this summer,” Shnowske said.
The swimmer practices six days a week, for at least two hours a day, while also spending time doing CrossFit training on land. According to Shnowske’s mother Erin, much of what Anna does is self-driven.
“I’m incredibly proud of her. I see the hard work that she puts in and the effort. As a parent, it’s so much fun to just journey along with her and see where she’s going to take it. She’s so self-motivated that there are some days where we have to hold her back,” Erin says.
Shnowske has already earned qualifying times for the upcoming 33rd Annual Speedo Winter Championships, the 2024 Eastern Zone Sectional Region 2, and the 2024 Speedo Sectionals Long Course “Super Sectional.”
When asked about inspiring other kids her age, Shnowske urges hard work.
“Work as hard as you can, whenever you can. Stay late after practice, talk to your coaches about what helps you get better, and really embrace your team and your friends on the team because they are going to be what helps you get through the tough days and the hard work and the things that you don’t want to do to get better. Those people are going to be your encouragement.”