04/05/2023
Same photo almost TEN YEARS later!
A truly special moment captured during Ryan Lochte's visit to our host site the Georgia Tech McAuley Aquatic Center! This is exactly the inspiration and excitement we aim to instill in our youth swimmers. When asked about the moment Julia had this to say:
"I started swimming part-time when I was ten years old, which is a little late for most competitive swimmers. This was also the year of the 2012 Summer Olympics, so that’s when I really first paid a lot of attention to the sport and the swimmers. I was a dancer and started swimming to build endurance and absolutely fell in love with the sport and started swimming full-time. Having someone to look up to, idolize, and dream to be like was a huge motivation. Ryan represented all of that to me.
When I was 12, I was able to meet him and was so star struck at that age. I did continue my swimming career into college but have since hung up my goggles. To be able to cross paths, almost ten years later, and re-experience and recall what Ryan meant to me at that age was exciting and special. Now being 21, I have such admiration for him and what he has given the sport, and what he has accomplished throughout his career. He is a prime representation of what hard work, dedication, and commitment can bring to you. Ryan brings a dynamic to swimming that very few swimmers can bring and it is still exciting watching him, being able to meet him again, and knowing that he is still such an inspiration to young swimmers like I myself once was."
