Rising to the Challenge: The Road to Swimming Trials

Rising to the Challenge: The Road to Swimming Trials

By Ashley Peterson 

May Spotlight #1 : Lucas Amaral

With the anticipation of the upcoming swimming trials this June reaching new heights, we're diving into the inspiring stories of the athletes in our Swimmer Spotlight series. Each feature offers a behind-the-scenes look at the path of a dedicated swimmer—from their early days in the sport to the obstacles they've overcome, and the dreams that keep them pushing forward. With just one month to go until the 100 fly prelims at Trials, we caught up with Lucas to discuss this important moment in his swimming journey.

What inspired you to start swimming?

“When I was younger and learning how to swim, all of the other babies cried when they went under water. However, when I went under water, I would love it. My mom saw this, and put me in swimming lessons as soon as I was old enough to swim by myself. After that, she put me into the Stingrays, just for fun. I found that I loved the competitive aspect of swimming, and the friends I made inspired me to continue swimming.”

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

“My biggest challenge in training has been getting up early in the morning, especially in recent years where I have to drive myself. I have learned to overcome this challenge by having caffeine in the morning. Another issue that I struggle with is the physical impact swimming can have on my body. Being a swimmer means being sore quite often. When I find it hard to get to practice because of this, I remind myself that being sore means I am improving. This helps motivate me to keep going.”

What is your favourite race and why?

“My favourite race is definitely the 50 fly. I love this race because it’s short and I feel like you don’t have to think about it/have a plan for the race. I think this race is all muscle, so you don’t have to pace yourself - it’s everything you have all at once.”

How do you mentally prepare for a big competition?

“To mentally prepare for a big competition, I like to think about my main event and visualize all of the different outcomes for that race. This helps me realize how much control I have and makes me forget about the variables I cannot control. Differentiation this for me is very important, and I have noticed that I swim better when I visualize before a race.”

What are your goals for Swimming Trials?

“My goal for Trials is to win the 50 Fly Junior Final . I think winning this would be a huge accomplishment for me, and it would make everything that I’ve worked so hard for worth it. One of my main goals for Trials is to break into the top 3 in the 100 fly. It would be a huge step toward making the junior team, especially with Jr Worlds coming up this summer.

Getting to Worlds is my ultimate goal in the end, and accomplishing both of these goals would be a huge stepping stone to getting there.”

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

“Some advice I would give to the younger swimmers is to stay consistent with practices. A lot of people have the mindset of ‘missing one won’t matter,’ but in the end, it does. All of the things you choose to do add up in the end, and, even when it’s hard, you should preserver and go to practice! You should also always listen to your coaches. Believe it or not, what coaches say is really important, and when you hear the advice your coach is giving you, it is always better to listen and take the advice. Lastly, you should remember to not be so hard on yourself, especially after a bad meet. You need to remember that one bad meet will not change anything, and all the hard work you put in WILL pay off, no matter what.”

With just two weeks until taper begins, the excitement is building as the countdown to our first race at Trials begins. Practices are getting more race-specific, with a laser focus on every element of the competition, as the fine-tuning starts. The hard work and dedication have led Lucas to this moment, and now it’s time to step onto the starting blocks with confidence and anticipation. The journey to Victoria is almost here, and the thrill of racing at Trials is just around the corner.

That concludes this month’s Swimmer Spotlight featuring Lucas. Thank you for sharing your incredible story with us. We’re all cheering you on as you prepare to make waves at Trials in Victoria. Best of luck, Lucas—we can’t wait to see you race!