Olympic Dreams

By Brandon Lee Democrat Writer

The Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club’s excitement of having earned its largest contingent of Olympic trial qualifiers since the club’s inception in 1966 has outshined any nervousness it might have felt.

Five swimmers from the club will compete in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials that start today at the Centurylink Center in Omaha, Neb. ATAC sent a program-best three swimmers to last year’s Trials.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” ATAC coach Terry Maul said.

“They’ll be competing against the best swimmers in the country. Just to be a part of that is a great opportunity. They’ll get to experience what’s probably the fastest swimming meet in the world because of the depth of the competition.

“It’ll be a value experience for them to see themselves at that level.”

The group features Cece Williams (200- and 400-meters); Alyssa Yambar-Maul (200-meter backstroke); Scott Fortier (200-meter butterfly); Hunter Hinson (200-meter butterfly); and Malcolm Hosford (100-meter breaststroke).

Hosford is no stranger to the Olympic trials, but he expects this go-around to provide a fresh experience given his age (30) and time away from the pool.

Shortly after placing 24th in the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials, the former Auburn star quit the sport, only to return several years later and compete with much-younger swimmers with ATAC.

The age difference that will be present at the trials is of no concern to Hosford though. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder said he is poised to compete with the youngsters and is thrilled about being a part of the club’s record-setting season.

“Swimming is a different game now than it was 10 years ago when I was young,” Hosford said.

“It’s not an odd thing at my age, but it’s evolved so much to where you mostly only see guys in their upper-20s. It took full dedication for me to get back into it. I quit at a young age when I was on top of my game because I was young and naive.

“But I feel great at my age right now, and it’s great to be in this position with the club.”

Williams, 16, who attends Chiles High, made the trial cut with a first-place performance (2:03.19) last March. She never envisioned being among the five swimmers contending on a national stage.

“I’m so excited,” Williams said.

“I truthfully never thought I would make the cut. So just the fact that I did, I’m so excited to go out there and have the experience and see all the fast people swim. We’ve been training really hard twice a day. Now our minds are ready to swim fast at Omaha.”

Even though Maul is content knowing that five of his swimmers will vie for spots on the Olympic roster, he said his focus directed at something more important — a postseason championship.

Last year, ATAC earned its second Florida Swimming Senior State Championship in program history. The club won its first title in 2003.

Two isn’t good enough, according to Maul.

“Since all of them have their primary championship meets at the end of the summer, it’s not realistic for them to be thinking about making the Olympic team since only the top two in event make that team,” Maul said.

“It’s just an opportunity for them to compete at a very high level competition. What we would like to do is go there and swim as close as we can to our best times as preparation for the end-of-season championships in August.”