TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - It's without a doubt that any athlete's goal is to represent their country at the Olympic Games. At the end of the month, over a dozen current, former, and incoming Seminoles look to swim fast and punch their ticket to Rio.
The Olympic Trials hit the pool in Omaha, Nebraska on June 26th, and eight current Seminoles are training in Tallahassee gearing up for the Trials.
Many of them went in 2012 to watch, but will be competing for the first time. They admit the training isn't easy and the pressure is pretty intense, but they're excited about representing Florida State and the possibility of representing their country.
"Definitely there's some nerves going in there, but most of it is excitement," said Connor Kalisz, who will compete in the 100 and 200 back. "We've been training for this for four years. A lot of us have been working really hard day in and day out. It's all going to pay off eventually so the nerves are there but it's a good thing."
"I've been training with them all summer," said Natalie Pierce of her training partners. "It's going to be great to go to the Olympic Trials with my teammates. I went to watch in 2012 and I'm just really excited to be here and compete for Florida State and be able to compete for a chance to be on the United State Olympic team."
Pierce will compete in the 100 breaststroke.
