Bresser dives in with the Post

Q&A Tim Pappa

She's a three-time Mid-American Conference champion in the 200 backstroke, a first-team All-American, a MAC Academic All-American and a GTE and NCAA Academic All-American.

Emily Bresser, a senior backstroker and individual medley swimmer, has been diving in with the Ohio women's swimming team for the past three years and is back for her last season following an opportunity at the Olympic trials. This time, Bresser dives in with The Post.

THE POST: What went through your mind just seconds before the start of the Olympic trials while you stood there, perched on the platform, ready to dive in?

Bresser: Seconds before a race, I pray. I just say to myself, 'Give me your hand now, God.' and get ready to go. I know it sounds kind of hokey, but that's what I do.

THE POST: How would you describe the atmosphere of a swimming race, constantly under water or face down in the path of water, as opposed to another sport in open air, such as soccer or baseball?

Bresser: At meets you hear the crowd around you and see them right before the race. Sometimes you can hear them while you are under water. That's when you know there's a large crowd in attendance. Just hearing the crowd before and during the race gets you excited to get through the race. It gets you moving.

THE POST: When did you start swimming? Has the success you've found at the collegiate and high school level always come easily?

Bresser: I started swimming at six. It has never come easily for me. Swimming is a sport where you work for months and months and practice twice a day for one race that lasts only a couple minutes. When you have failures, it becomes really discouraging, but you learn from them.

THE POST: What's been your most enjoyable aspect of swimming?

Bresser: It's hard to pinpoint one thing. The team at OU is better than I could have ever asked for. All the opportunities I've had, the travel and the people I've met have been things all together that have made my career in swimming fun and the reason I love it. It all adds up to something wonderful.

THE POST: How do you believe your mindset or ego has changed since returning to OU following the Olympic trials?

Bresser: It was an individual thing at the trials. But at OU it's all about the team. I know I have to get things done myself for my own events. But I want to do it for the team.

THE POST: Who has played the most important part in your swimming career – yourself, your coaches, someone else?

Bresser: My family has played the strongest role in my swimming career. Both of my siblings swam, so it was a no-brainer to follow them. My parents have always been supportive. They were at the practices when I was younger and at the meets in college. They've always been motivating and supportive.

THE POST: What impact has head coach Greg Werner made on you since you arrived at OU?

Bresser: A great impact. I've become faster in all my race times. But he's really taught me to have respect and show class at other meets in the face of other teams. I think that's really important to him. When you see other teams displaying class, it makes the whole meet a lot better.

THE POST: With the daily schedule of swimming in college being one that is often monotonous – months of training and two practices a day – how do you keep the enthusiasm to stay focused?

Bresser: It gets very tough mentally and physically. But there is always an incentive. You know you're working towards a goal, so it's not that bad. Plus, all your teammates are doing the same thing as you.