Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Natalia Lesniewska

Natalia Lesniewska brought home 10 golds and one bronze at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships. The rising freshman, competing in the girls' 13-14 year-old division, was dominant for the Sarasota Sharks at the meet, which was held from July 9-12 at Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training in Ocala. Individually, she won the 50-yard freestyle (25.83), 100-yard freestyle (56.82), 200-yard freestyle (2:04.98), 200-yard backstroke (2:18.04) and 100-yard butterfly (1:02.00). In relays, she contributed to Shark victories for the 200-yard medley (25.34), 200-yard freestyle (25.17), 400-yard medley (56.29), 400-yard freestyle (57.59) and 800-yard freestyle (2:06.48). Lesniewska, who will attend Cardinal Mooney this fall, is the Sarasota Athlete of the Week.

How was your FLAGS experience?

I had a lot of fun, because it was my last FLAGS. I'm going to be 15 (and will be too old) for the next one. I learned a lot and met a lot of new friends from other teams. It was just a really fun last opportunity to swim with this age group.

What goals did you have entering the meet?

Just to have fun and drop (time) in a couple of events that I knew I could.

When and why did you start swimming?

I did swim lessons in a tiny little community pool back in Chicago, and they just recommended to my parents to sign me up for a swim team. Now I'm here. We moved to Florida right before I turned 10.

How have you improved as a swimmer this year?

Definitely mentally. I can easily go to practice now and have more fun. I felt myself getting stronger over the past couple months — in the pool, and outside using weights.

What has been a recent focus of yours in practice?

I'm trying to get good at different events, not just my main ones. I want to have a good diversity (of skills). It's been going pretty well so far.

Why have you stuck with this sport?

The friends, mainly. A lot of memories have been made at the pool. It's a fun way to stay fit.

Which quote or piece of advice motivates you?

There's one from the Hunger Games: "It takes 10 times as long to put yourself back together than it does to fall apart." That just tells me not to give up, because then it will be harder later to get back into it. 

What's a fun fact about you not many people know?

I do a lot of crafts. I switch every couple of weeks, so I visit Michaels a lot.

Who's your favorite professional athlete and why?

I really like Gretchen Walsh. I've seen her at meets before. She's a really good role model, I feel, and she's really fast. I aspire to be like her one day.

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you eat and why?

Probably steak, but honestly, anything that's good.

If you could see any artist in concert, who would you see and why?

Tame Impala or Olivia Rodrigo.

Finish this sentence. Natalia Lesniewska is...

Determined.