Villa Maria swimmer Olivia Giampietro is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The Villa Maria junior, a member of the five consecutive and reigning state PIAA Class AA swimming champion Hurricanes, is a six-time relay gold medalist (two consecutive in 200 medley, 200 free, and 400 free relays); a two-time state finalist in the 50 free; and a PIAA District One 50 free champion. Villa Maria swimming head coach Cathy Hay said, “Olivia immediately stepped in as a freshman in 2014 with major contributions to the team’s success, and since then has shown great consistency in the pool and has become a great team leader.”
Q: You’re the defending District One 50 free champion, and a two-time state finalist in the event. What do you think has been the biggest key to your success in the 50 free?
A: I think the most important thing about the 50 free is not over thinking it. I try to stay focused on all the little things, especially the start, because the 50 free is so unpredictable.
Q: You’re a six-time relay gold medalist (two consecutive in 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay). Which of those six gold medal-winning efforts was the most memorable to you? Can you share with us your most vivid memory of that race?
A: Last year, Emily, Kate, Julie and I broke the state record in the 200 medley relay. The 200 medley is my favorite race, and being able to win it, and carry on the Villa tradition was really special. My favorite part of the race is always the start. Seeing Emily swim so fast gets me so excited to race. It started off the meet on a really high-note, and it carried us through to win another championship.
Q: You’ve been a part of Villa Maria’s last two Class AA state championship teams. What (to you) has been your best memory at States – can you share it with us?
A: My best memory from States is always dancing before our relays with my teammates. We each have a dance move (none of them are very good!) and we just like to laugh and relax before we race. Before finals at States, they always play music, so it makes our dances even better.
Q: Your coaches mentioned that you have become a great team leader. As a junior and a leading swimmer
on the Hurricanes, how do you feel you can best display leadership on the Villa Maria swim team?
A: The best way to display leadership at Villa is by example. I try to always work my hardest at our practices, especially when we focus on technical things. I think it is important to support the whole team, and make
everyone feel part of the Villa tradition. Staying positive is key, because it can help build team morale.
Q: What (to you) has been your most memorable experience in your Villa Maria swimming career? Can you share it with us?
A: My most memorable experience with Villa was last year at our District meet, swimming the 400 free relay. Emily, Maura, Julie, and I were swimming the last race of the meet, and we knew it was going to be a close one. We were behind the blocks getting ready, when we heard and saw all of our teammates crowding around the pool ready to watch us swim. We won the race, and after, won the meet, there was no better feeling than sharing that with all my teammates, especially my sister!
Q: Can you walk us through a typical day, or cycle, of training?
A: A typical day for me starts when my alarm goes off at 5 a.m. I’m at the pool by 5:30, finish practice and am at school by 7:45. After school, I go back to the pool for an hour of dryland, either in the weight room or at a group workout, then swim for two more hours.
Q: What aspect of your swimming have you been working on the most recently?
A: Most recently, I have been working on my tempo, especially in free and fly. Depending on the length of the race, my coach and I decide what my stroke rate should be, and I am working hard to produce that in a race.
Q: What pool did you first swim for? What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?
A: The first pool I swam for is my current club team. I have been swimming at the Phoenixville YMCA for 13 years now. My favorite pool I’ve swam at is the The Greensboro Aquatic Center in North Carolina. The facilities there are amazing and it always just brings back great memories of Nationals.
Q: Who have been your biggest swimming mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?
A: I have been lucky to have so many great coaches and mentors throughout my swimming career. My first coach, Theresa McCallen, really taught me to love the sport first. Even when I was 5 years old, she made me feel important on the team, and excited to be in the water. Ryan Kennedy has been my coach at the Y since I was 10 years old. He has taught me so much, everything from technique and worth ethic to really believing in myself and always finding the good in failure, learning something from every race. My high school coach Cathy Hay, has taught me the importance of being part of a team, understanding tradition, and succeeding while remaining humble . I have been so lucky these past few years to have high school coaches who understand the balance between club and high school swimming.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-meet preparation the day of a meet.
A: Before big meets, I always try to go to bed early. In the mornings, I wake up, pack my bag, eat breakfast, and just do normal things I would do on any other day. For me, it is about staying relaxed, knowing at this moment, all I can do is trust in my training.
Q: What colleges are among your current favorites? What do you think you might want to major in at college? Is there a particular career path that interests you?
A: I want to go to college somewhere that will challenge me both academically, and athletically. I want to be able to continue to be a part of team that makes me feel comfortable and excited to swim. I’m looking into the science majors, maybe engineering, but still haven’t decided. As far as swimming, I have been looking into leagues where I feel I would best fit in such as the Patriot League, the Big East, the Ivy League and the A-10.
Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Villa Maria? What sparked your interest in these activities?
A: I am on student council and write articles for our yearbook, Reflections. I like student council because it is a great way to be involved in everything going on at school. I got involved in yearbook after freshman year, and think that it is a fun way to capture the moments at Villa. It is especially fun when I get to write the article about the swim team!
Fun facts – Olivia Giampietro
Favorite TV show: Greys Anatomy.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: “Shut up and Dance” – Walk the Moon
Favorite color: Blue.
Birth date: March 1, 1999 in Phoenixville.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
