Lower Merion swimmer Anna Kalandadze is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The senior is a four-time PIAA state champion in the 500 free, finishing in first place in the girls’ 500 free at the 2019 PIAA Class AAA state championships with a clocking of 4:48.96, well ahead of second-place finisher Elle Braun of Upper Dublin (4:52.81). She also placed second in the girls’ 200 free with a clocking of 1:48.34, behind first-place finisher Abbie Amdor of Upper Dublin (1:46.66). Kalandadze is a three-time District 1 champion, an eight-time state medal winner, a five-time All-American and holds eight Lower Merion school records. According to LM swim coach Jeremy Byrne, Kalandadze is the first female swimmer to win the same event at PIAA states four years in a row. She is a US Open Water Senior National Top 20 finisher, a Junior National (in the pool) medal winner, and a US Open and Winter Senior National Qualifier. Next winter, Kalandadze will swim for the University of California-Berkeley.
Q: What does it mean to you to win the same event at PIAA States four years in a row?
A: I am so honored to be able to represent my school at States for four years in a row. I feel like this is my way of giving back to everyone who has helped me get to where I am.
Q: What was your most vivid memory of the 500 free at States this year? What was working particularly well for you that day?
A: My most vivid memory of the race was getting out and immediately getting a huge group hug from my teammates. It is the best feeling in the world to know that your friends love and support you.
Q: You hold eight school records. Which record means the most to you and why?
A: The relay records definitely mean the most to me because there is an added level of swimming for your team. When it is just me in the pool, I’m mainly swimming for myself but when it’s a relay, I have the support of my friends and I am able to support them in return.
Q: You are the District 1 record-holder in the 500 free. What has been your best swim in the 500 free – and what was the key to your success that day?
A: So far, I believe my best swim was when I set the district record. That month was tough for me, with injuries and sickness, but I was able to push past all of that and focus on my swim. I think that attitude was the reason I swam so well that day.
Q: What aspect of your swimming have you been working on the most recently?
A: I have been working a lot on my technique off the walls. I tend to take only one or two dolphin kicks and I have been trying to up that to three or four.
Q: Who have been your biggest swimming mentors? What was the most important thing each of them taught you?
A: My biggest swimming mentor is my coach, Jeremy Byrne. He taught me everything I know about competitive swimming and how to be a great leader in and out of the pool. He is a very important part of my life. Basically, he is my best friend. My other mentor is my mom. She immigrated to the US with almost nothing and she was able to build an amazing life for my and my family. She has taught me to never give up and to always give 110 percent to everything I do.
Q: What attracted you to University of California-Berkeley? What do you plan to major in? Is there a particular career path that interests you at the present time?
A: I chose Cal because of the outstanding academics and the top-level athletics. I have had my heart set on Cal since 7th grade, when I decided that I wanted to pursue swimming at a higher level. I plan to major in Biology/Environmental Science and go into Marine Biology.
Fun facts – Anna Kalandadze
Favorite book: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
Favorite author: Agatha Christie.
Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds.
Favorite movie: Blackfish.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: Power by Kanye.
Favorite place to visit: Australia.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her school.)
