KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The USA Olympic Swimming Trials have begun and a few University of Tennessee swimmers are competing, looking for a spot on Team USA.
One of them is a freshman at UT, who was first-team All-SEC in her first year.
Camille Spink was incredible in her freshman season at UT, also making the All-SEC freshman team.
Now, she wants to represent the country she loves. She said she is participating in four qualifying times at the trials — the 50-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter freestyles as well as the 200 I-M. She placed 13th in the semifinal race of the 200-meter freestyle.
Camille Spink is really good at swimming. But when she was younger she simply did not want to swim at all.
“I was put in swim because my brother was in swim. My mom didn’t want to deal with me. She was like, ‘Go swim. I’ll be here I will see you in an hour.' I was like, 'I hate this, I hate this.' I didn’t want to compete. I hated competing," she said.
That was until she won a ribbon for winning when she was around 8 years old.
“That is where I found my passion for winning and, more importantly, not losing," she said.
And the year after, she had her sights set on bigger goals.
“I have notes from when I was 9 and 10 that one day, I’m going to be an Olympian. I'm going to win all these medals," she said.
She is proud to have a shot after setting this goal for herself. Spink competed in the trials when she was 16 years old and will try and make her dream come true again.
“Looking at that first meet, it was a breakout meet and a realization I could actually do this. And I can put in the work to make an Olympic team," she said.
Spink said she feels very sentimental about possibly representing the U.S. at the Olympics. She has competed at international events for the U.S. and won medals.
Those moments on the podium were emotional. Spink said she swims with a lot of pride for her country.
“I feel very patriotic about this country. I love this country, so being able to compete for America at the Olympic stage is unbelievable to me, and I would love, love, love to do it again," she said.
