SNOHOMISH — A scant three weeks after shattering the Class 4A state swim meet record and seizing his second consecutive 100-yard breaststroke title, Garren Riechel returned to the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, eyeing an even bigger prize.
He did not come away all wet. Going up against some of the nation’s top swimmers, Riechel won the longer 100-meter version of the breaststroke at last week’s USA Swimming/Speedo Western Region Senior Sectionals, and his time of 1 minute, 4.09 seconds qualified the Snohomish High sophomore for the U.S. Olympic team trials. At the trials, June 29–July 6 in Omaha, Neb., he will vie for the opportunity to represent his country in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
“I was kind of relieved,” Riechel said of his reaction when the scoreboard confirmed he had bested the qualifying standard time of 1:04.69. “It made my day, my week.”
“It’s been a long-term goal to make it to the trials,” Riechel continued. “Obviously I’m really happy even though I don’t really know what to expect now.”
The qualifying time put up by Riechel — a year-round club swimmer with the Snohomish County-based Stingray Swim Club — ranks No. 21 among the 26 hopefuls currently in the hunt for one of just two slots for breaststroker’s on the U.S. team.
The men ahead of him average nearly 24 years of age and only two are as young as 20. At just 16, Riechel — 6-foot-3 and growing — surely will benefit from training with and competing against the nation’s elite, even if he doesn’t secure a spot on the 2008 Olympic team.
“I’m one of the younger guys there and obviously it’s really hard to make the Olympic team,” Riechel said. “This year I’m just going to go swim and get the experience. In a couple of years I’ll start looking at the national and world rankings and see where I’m at and try to get one of those two spots.”
“This is a huge deal, Garren is really among the elite now,” said Rob Serviss who coaches Riechel at Snohomish High. “He’s very young with a lot of physical growth ahead and he’s only going to improve.”
For all his talent and tenacity Riechel might not be the perfect candidate for Beijing 2008. But, you’d be hard-pressed to say “London 2012” faster than Riechel
Towards that end, Riechel looks forward to the opportunity to compete against and pick up pointers from the likes of breaststroke world-record holder Brendan Hansen (59.13) and other speedsters at the summer trials.
“I’ll introduce myself to Brendan and shake his hand,” Riechel said with a smile. “I’ll let him know I’m a big fan … and maybe ask him if he’s thinking about retiring before 2012.”
Most swimmers struggle to master the unwieldy breaststroke and few at the high school age level have tamed the event quite like Riechel, who possesses a relentless drrive for excellence.
“Of all the competitive strokes the breaststroke is the hardest to learn,” Serviss said. “There are technical nuances and it’s very demanding strength-wise.”
Indeed, it’s often said helicopters don’t really fly. They just plain beat the air into submission. It’s likewise with Riechel and the breaststroke. He combines refined technique with his powerful frame and imposing reach to efficiently churn water into a frothy conveyance leading from one victory stand to another.
“I’ve been fine tuning it (for years),” Riechel said. “There’s a lot of chest press going forward, you have to bring your arms out of the water at the right angle and time your leg kicks.”
Riechel could surely swim a couple thousand yards in considerably less time than he could explain the breaststroke to casual observers. And time is a commodity this ultimate student-athlete — pool prowess aside, his 3.94 grade point average will likely provide him with his pick of prestigious college programs — has precious little to spare.
Weekday’s after school, he frequently squeezes in a couple hours studying at the Snohomish library before commuting to practices under the tutelage of Stingray Swim Club coach Ben Olzewski in Everett.
“It’s really tough to get everything done so I have no time for X-Box or anything,” Riechel laughed. “I just come home from practice, get my homework done and go to bed.”
He’s not complaining though.
“A lot of kid’s dream of making it to the Olympics and this is a step you have to go through to get there,” Riechel said. “Four years ago I was watching the trials on television and thinking how cool it would be to actually qualify for the team.”
Don’t bet against London calling in the future.
“Four years from now, when he is 20 and probably in the best shape of this life he is going to have a very strong chance to make the team and swim in the Olympics,” Serviss said.
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