by Eliza Fox
Bethesda Chevy Chase High School

You’re on the starting block, with thousands watching you in person and millions watching you on live TV. One millisecond. That’s what can separate you from the athlete next to you, from giving you a chance to fulfill your dream of competing in the Olympics. The pressure is intense. 

How should you cope with this?

Treat it like any other race.

“The best thing you can do is to not make it a bigger deal than it is,” said Coach Blanken, Bethesda Chevy Chase, ASA and River Falls swim coach. “Because at the end of the day — whether it’s a 50 freestyle or 200 backstroke —, it’s the same [event] that you did, and you know, even if it was two years ago, it’s the same swim from the last time. It’s just a different pool under a different set of lights, but the actual activity is the same. So treat it that way.”

Ranked first in the class of 2026 in Maryland, 16 year-old Virginia Hinds, secured her place in this week’s Olympic trials with a time of 2:13.14 in the 200 backstroke. Hinds swims for the ASA (All Star Aquatics), Bethesda Chevy Chase’s Varsity team, as well as CCRA. 

The trials are a big event on the swimming schedule and attract big TV audiences. Despite her young age, Hinds seems to be heeding her coach’s advice and taking the pressure and attention in stride. 

“There’s a good amount of pressure sometimes but for me I just try to not think about the pressure and have fun,” Hinds said. “At the end of the day, as long as I’m having fun and happy with my races that’s all that matters to me.”

Hinds is following closely in the footsteps of Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky. Both are determined and hard working swimmers who hold many swimming records. Hinds spends the majority of her time in the water, and started swimming because of her older sister, Clara. 

“I’ve looked up to my sister mainly because she is the reason I started swimming and is always my biggest supporter,” Hinds said. 

Maryland Olympic swimmers Phoebe Bacon and Katie Ledecky swam at the same Stone Ridge Pool where Hinds currently trains. Bacon and Ledecky began their remarkable journeys to Olympic success at the Stone Ridge pool, a hot spot of Maryland talent. The state’s strong swimming community and facilities have provided an essential platform for swimmers to develop their skills and move to competing in the US Olympic trials.

Kristinia Lennox swam for Puerto Rico in the 2008 Olympics. Lennox coached GDS High School, NCAP Gold lll as well as the Somerset Dolphins, coaching many swimmers keeping Maryland swimming strong. She was 23 years old when she swam in the Olympics held in Beijing.

“[Even though] the people are from different nations, the language is the same,” Lennox said. “We all knew how to get up on blocks, set up and go. That’s universal, but it’s just different and definitely very intimidating.”  

A former Spanish swimmer Dario Fuentes agreed the pressure around swimming is very intense. As there is a lot of tension within each swimmer. 

“We trained for four years to reach our goal that may be decided in less than a minute race,” Fuentes said.

Although Hinds just missed qualifying for the Olympics in 2024, Blanken is proud of his swimmer. “It’s just an unbelievable accomplishment,” he said of her 5th place finish. “And it’s one that she’ll have with her forever. She is in a very, very small group of people that can say that they got that far, it’s very difficult to make. So it’s really cool to see.”