Topeka swimmers get a taste of this year's Olympic games

TOPEKA (KSNT) - This week kicks off the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics and some Topeka athletes got a taste of what it's like competing at the highest level.

Howard Hunte has been the head coach of Topeka Swim Association (TSA) for seven years. In total, TSA has had six swimmers qualify for previous Olympic trials.

Back in June, Howard took a group of his swimmers to watch the Olympic trials in Indianapolis, Indiana. He tells 27 News how this was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

"This is what we coach. You know we try to get our swimmers to believe that they can actually make it there," Hunte said. "So it's always good to see it in person. See what it looks like and see how swimming at the highest level available looks like."  

Howard says getting to see some of the best swimmers in the world encourages and impacts his Topeka swimmers in many ways.

"We all have dreams when we were young kids. And you know we all want to be the best at something or the best at any sport," Hunte said. "I think seeing that and making it look like this is something we can actually accomplish makes it easier for the kids." 

His 10-year-old son, Sebastian, was one of the 40 other swimmers who attended this year's Olympic trials. He tells 27 News that getting to see his favorite swimmer in person inspires him to reach his own swimming dreams.

"Michael Phelps is my favorite," Sebastian said. "He's the greatest and I want to be an Olympic swimmer."

Howard says that there's one main takeaway he wants all his swimmers to keep in mind when watching the Olympic games this year.

 "I think just looking at the swimmers as not just as you know like, heroes, or the fastest swimmers, but looking at them like you know, they're doing pretty much the same thing we're doing, just at a higher level. They're just as human as we are," Howard said.

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