Swimmer Spotlight: Road to Swimming Trials

Race Day Ready: Road to Swimming Trials
By Ashley Peterson

Welcome to our Swimmer Spotlight series, where we highlight the incredible journeys of our athletes as they prepare for the upcoming swimming trials this June. In each installment, we sit down with one of our dedicated swimmers to hear about their path in the sport, the challenges they've faced, and their goals for the future.

March Spotlight: Matteo Mancini

In this second chapter, we feature Matteo Mancini — a standout breaststroker and multiple club record holder. A key member of our team for years, Matteo is a fearless competitor with a relentless drive to succeed. He’s ready to put his training to the test and make a statement at trials.

What inspired you to start swimming?

“After starting swimming at a very young age and always loving the water, my parents decided to put me into lessons with the town. After I finished those lessons, one of my mom’s friends recommended the Stingrays, so we decided to try it out - and now, here we are, just a couple months out from Swimming Trials.”

What has been the biggest challenge in your training, and how did you overcome it?

“The biggest challenge for my training has been finding the motivation within me to get up and go to early morning practices. At 4:30 in the morning, the will to get out of bed and jump into the water, before my friends are even awake, is quite hard some days. To this day, I am still overcoming this challenge - I find the best way to keep myself motivated is to keep my goals in mind. This helps me find a drive and a purpose to get up every day. I am continuously improving myself as a swimmer as time goes on, and I believe that I will get over this obstacle in the road.”

What is your favourite race and why?

“My favourite race has got to be the 200 breaststroke because it requires specific training and techniques that are quite hard to master. I think a lot of people discredit how hard breaststroke really is, and doing the 200 breaststroke can be quite humbling. It takes a certain kind of person to swim a 200 because it requires more planning than the sprint races such as the 100 or 50. After swimming a 200 breaststroke, I always feel accomplished and rewarded (and tired) because of how hard the race actually is.”

How do you mentally prepare for a big competition?

“This may not be the best advice for aspiring swimmers, but I’m being honest - I don’t do much to mentally prepare for a big meet, I usually just show up and go with the flow. I like to listen to some music to prepare me, and I like to surround myself with good, positive vibes before a meet. This way, I’m not pressured and I am excited instead of stressed to swim. I always remember to believe in myself and have confidence. I feel that this goes a long way for me, and keeps me in a good headspace before doing something daunting.”

What are your goals for Swimming Trials?

“Going into Swimming Trials, my only hope is to best time - anything else that I accomplish would be amazing, but I won’t be disappointed if my only success is a best time. A best time is always a win in my books!”

What advice would you give to younger swimmers aspiring to compete at this level?

“At this high level of swimming that I compete at, the hardest thing to conquer is staying motivated even when it gets difficult. You always have to remember to hang on and keep going - remember that you are human, and you will make mistakes; that’s the nature of the sport. Make sure you reflect on your mistakes, figure out what you can do better, and improve. Do not dwell on the past or beat yourself up for little things. Getting best times doesn’t always happen, and that’s okay! The smallest drops in time means progress, and progression is progression, no matter how little. Always remember to find the fun in what we do - swimming can be intense and overwhelming, but find the things that you enjoy!”

Towards the Finish Line

The team had an incredible training camp in Barbados, and we’re heading into the next 12 weeks with renewed focus and determination. The experiences, lessons, and progress made during camp have set the stage for what’s to come. Every stroke, every meter, and every practice session will play a crucial role as we push toward peak performance for the trials in June. The hard work continues, and we’re ready to give it everything we’ve got.

That wraps up this month’s Swimmer Spotlight, Matteo. Thank you for letting us interview you, and we wish you luck in trials and the journey ahead. Good luck, Matteo!

Keep your eyes on the goal, trust your training, and let your hard work show!