Issaquah swimmer looks ahead to state championships
November 10, 2008
By Laura J. Mansfield
Helen Liu is ecstatic after winning the 2007 3A state swimming championship in a time of 23.95 seconds at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way . File
At 5 a.m., most teenagers are asleep. But not Issaquah High School swim team member Helen Liu. Three days a week, Liu, who also swims for the Issaquah Sockeyes, jumps into the Julius Boehm Pool and practices for an hour before she heads to class.
Liu, 15, has done early morning workouts since she was 12, and commitment to both teams puts her in practice 14 times each week. She is the defending 3A state champion 50-yard freestyle sprint swimmer, and this year’s state championships are right around the corner.
Liu, known as “Louie” to her teammates, has long brown hair, with bangs that sweep to the side and frame a big smile. She admits she is not a morning person, and said this time of year is not even her most difficult training schedule.
“I have no life in the summer at all,” said Liu, who started swimming on a league when she was 7.
When she does have free time, she enjoys lounging at home in comfy sweats with close friends and watching a movie.
Liu, who competes in freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly, said getting up in the morning, and struggling with what she calls “mental blocks” are her biggest challenges.
However, all the practice has its rewards. She said last year’s win at state is her proudest achievement yet.
“It was really cool, because I won by more than half a second,” she said. “It was the highlight of my life.”
Competitive swimming does not come easy, however, she explained. This year has been particularly challenging. The Issaquah swim team, formerly ranked a 3A team, is now a 4A team. According to Issaquah High swim coach Laura Halter, the 4A team reclassification means team members have to swim faster in order to qualify for state and district meets. She said the move from 3A to 4A is not bad, just different.
“She gets to swim against different people and gets new opportunities,” said Halter, who calls Liu a good kid, and has coached her on the high school team for the past three years.
“I know she has struggled a lot this last year,” she added, describing Liu as a driven swimmer with a great work ethic.
Liu’s coach for the Issaquah Sockeyes swim team, Kyle Johnson, said “it will be harder, but it’s kinda what she needs. She needs that level of competition.”
Liu said this year has been a struggle.
However, “it’s part of the athletic process, because we’re working on aspects of weakness to get her stronger,” Johnson said. “To have a high level of success, you have to go through the highs and lows.”
He said Liu handles the balance between school and swimming well, adding that she is a versatile swimmer with a lot of range and ability in the future.
“She’s a beautiful swimmer, she’s makes it look effortless and she’s especially fun to watch,” said Halter, who added that she aims to make swimming fun and emphasizes working as a team at practices and meets.
Liu and her teammates rely on each other for support and encouragement.
“It’s nice to know other people work just as hard as you,” said Liu, who called her swim team a big family. “There’s a lot of support, we really encourage each other, it’s a lot of fun.”
Teammate Michela Lecoq, who describes Liu as caring, energetic and friendly, agreed about encouragement within the team.
“She likes to encourage people on hard sets,” Lecoq said.
Liu, who said she once had an obsession with Stanford, wants to swim at a Division 1 college and at the NCAA championships. Olympic trials, she said, will come in college.
“Every swimmer has Olympic dreams, ” she said with a big smile.
But for now, the 15-year-old’s attention is on the Washington State 4A Championships Nov. 14 and 15 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
Liu is hoping for a repeat in the 50-yard freestyle.
“She’s got all the tools,” Johnson said. “She’s just got to put it together.”
“She’s a beautiful swimmer, she makes it look effortless and she’s especially fun to watch.”
— Laura Halter
Issaquah High School swim coach
Laura J. Mansfield is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.
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