Competitive swimmer Evan Van Moerkerke discusses his journey to Rio
Fourth-year agricultural and crop sciences student Evan Van Moerkerke from Tillsonburg, Ontario is one of 27 nominated athletes to represent Swimming Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The 2016 Games run from August 5 to 21 and bring together top athletes from around the world. Specializing in the 100 metre freestyle, Van Moerkerke is ready to become the third Gryphon to represent Canada on the international stage.
The Ontarion spoke with Van Moerkerke about his outstanding athletic achievement.
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I don’t want to retire from this sport down the road and wish I could’ve put in a little bit more time or stuck with it a little longer.”[/pullquote]Crystal Gong: When did you learn to swim and how did you become involved in competitive swimming at the national and international level?
Evan Van Moerkerke: I started swimming right around the age of seven or eight. I’m the youngest of three athletic siblings, so it was more that they were already swimming and I was just put into it. It wasn’t until I was in high school and after I joined the club swim team in my hometown, that I started swimming competitively and competing at the provincial, national, and international level.
CG: Did you always specialize at the 100 metre freestyle? Did you also have other events that you also raced?
EVM: I used to do more backstroke, little bit of butterfly, but currently freestyle and backstroke have been my main events.
CG: Where does your drive and motivation come from? Also, where did you develop your work ethic for swimming?
EVM: Swimming has really been a self-motivating process. It’s been a struggle to find that motivation between seasons because of [balancing] school and swimming. The real motivation for swimming comes from driving myself and wanting to see what I’m capable of [achieving]. My work ethic combines swimming and training and trying to be the best that I can be. I don’t want to retire from this sport down the road and wish I could’ve put in a little bit more time or stuck with it a little longer.
CG: How has your experience swimming for the Guelph Gryphons prepared you for the Olympic trials? How do you think it will prepare you for the Olympic Games?
EVM: I owe a lot of where I am now to being at the University of Guelph. It wasn’t until I came here that I started improving a lot more. I was good, but I wasn’t at the level I should have been to compete [at the national and international levels]. Training at Guelph, the team, and [the atmosphere of] it all have really pushed me to race and this has led me to where I am today. If it weren’t for my team or my coach Don [Burton] for pushing me, I don’t think I would be where I am today.
CG: What’s the best piece of advice given to you for your swimming career and has led to shaping the person that you are today?
EVM: If you think you can do something, just push towards that goal. If you have the slightest idea that you can do something, then go for it. Through my university career, I didn’t always think that I could do it [or push through it], but my coach Don believed I could, and that was really motivational. You just have to put in the [hard] work.
CG: Can you explain what a typical week consists of for you during the year while you try to balance academics and swimming?
EVM: A usual day would consist of swim practice at 5:30 to 7:30 a.m., then my usual classes are grouped in the morning slots. I would usually have swim practice from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and [afterwards] go home to rest and complete homework. It’s really [primarily] just time management and using every bit of free time that you have to the fullest and being the most efficient [with the time that you have].
CG: Now that the academic semester has finished for the year, how many hours a day are you dedicating to swim practice? How has your training schedule changed since qualifying for the Olympics?
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I just let my body race.”[/pullquote]EVM: Training has picked up a little bit more [since qualifying for the Olympics]. Even through the school year, I have a pretty heavy training schedule so it hasn’t picked up too much. But I have put in a few more hours throughout the week, totalling to about 20 hours of training per week. The biggest [and most important factors are] focusing on the recovery and eating well to have that professional athlete lifestyle.
CG: Do you have any race day quirks that you’d like to share?
EVM: I don’t really do anything [specific or have a regime] that I go through for good luck. I’m more of a person that enjoys being social before races instead of isolating myself by listening to music. Before I race I enjoy talking to people and think as little of the race as possible. I just let my body race. I let my body mainly relax, swim, and have fun.
CG: Lastly, have you ever travelled to South America before? What are you most excited to see and experience in Rio, Brazil?
EVM: I’ve been to South America once in 2011, as I’d made the World Junior team in Lima, Peru. In looking forward to Rio, Brazil, I’m most excited to experience the excitement of the Olympics, to meet people from all across the world, and to experience the local culture and the beauty of Brazil. When you add all of the excitement together, the [combined] experience is going to be the best part.
Best of luck at the Olympic Games, Evan!