Haley Lips, who signed to swim with Indiana University, competed in her first U.S. Olympic Trials last week.
Lips will swim for Indiana University beginning in the fall. She qualified for the Olympics trials with qualifying times in the 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 free, 400 free and 400 IM.
She is a nine-time state champion, winning the 200 free (2006, 2007, 2011), 500 free (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011) and 100 fly (2009, 2010). She is a three-time MVP and holds numerous South Carolina short course age-group records in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly. Lips is also the YMCA short course national record holder in the 100 butterfly.
Lips also competed in Peru as a member of the USA junior team.
Lips answered questions on the just concluded Olympic trials, training, inspiration and her practice regimen.
Q: When did you first decide to try out for the Olympics and how long did you train before the trials?
A: “There are time standards for the Olympic trials and if you get them then you are allowed to compete in the trials. Since the trials are four years apart I have been training for basically four years, but the training becomes tougher closer to trials."
Q: How did you do Olympic trials?
A: "My highest place I finished in this year's trials was 35th in the 200 freestyle."
Q: How many hours do you practice a day?
A: "During hard training I practice up to five hours a day, but during what is called taper training I only practice two hours a day."
Q: If you could take one swim lesson with anyone in the world who would it be?
A: "I would love to swim with Natalie Coughlin because of the amazing experiences she could tell me about."
Q: Who or what is your inspiration?
A: "My family definitely supports me and inspires me to do my best."
Q: What's your favorite stroke?
A: "Freestyle."