In The Fast Lane: Zafir Qualifies for Olympic Trials

Congratulations to WWS sophomore Taylor Zafir who achieved an Olympic Trials cut in the 400 IM this summer. Taylor also established a new State Record for 13-14 year olds in the 200 IM. The 2008 Olympic Trials will take place in Omaha, Nebraska, and will serve as the Selection Meet for the 2008 Olympic Swimming Team which will compete in Beijing, China. Congratulations also to all other Wheaton Co-op Swimmers who competed in championship meets this summer! Please read the text of the Wheaton Sun article below; more articles will be linked here as they appear in local papers.

Taylor Zafir, 15, a sophomore swimmer who attends Wheaton Waarrenville South High School, floats on a kickboard while practicing Aug. 8 at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Zafir achieved an Olympic trials qualifying standard in the 400-meter individual medley during recent competition. Joel Wintermantle / For The Sun

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In the fast lane

Most teenagers spend their summers hanging out with their friends and relaxing after their first year of high school.

Taylor Zafir gets up every morning to swim for two hours. Then she comes back in the afternoon for another two-hour workout. What might be a chore to other teenagers is routine for the Wheaton-Warrenville South High School sophomore swimmer, who recently qualified for the 2008 Olympic trials.

Zafir qualified by competing in the Speedo Champions Series in Minneapolis in July, posting times of 4:54.67 in the 400 individual medley, 2:20.81 in the 200 individual medley and 1:13.04 in the breaststroke.

Her times for the 200 individual medley and the breaststroke are Illinois state records. Her time for the 400 individual medley is a sectional record for the U.S. Swimming Association.

Zafir isn't afraid to pay the price for her success.

"We do two hours of sprint work in the morning," she said. "Then we come back and do another two hours of distance work and working on technique."

Once the school year starts, the grueling pace continues, with 2½-hour workouts and weight training that Zafir describes as "intense."

Bob Strube has coached Zafir at the Wheaton Swim Club since she was 12 and can attest to the work she puts into her sport.

"She's a tremendous trainer," Strube said. "I'm comfortable saying that there is no one who works harder than she does. There's obviously a talent factor involved, but she's earned every bit of her success."

Strube sees great things in Zafir's future but was reluctant to make any predictions.

"The Olympic trials are the elite swimmers," Strube said. "It's a little unusual to have someone Taylor's age at this level."

Zafir's first coach was her stepfather, Chris Delgaldo.

"She was average before about the age of 12," Delgaldo said of Zafir, who has been swimming since the age of 8. "She was interested in a lot of activities before that. Her strength as a swimmer is that she's good at everything."

Officials at the high school are proud of Zafir.

"What a great opportunity for her," said Dawn Snyder, principal at South. "It must be great for her and her family, and we certainly take pride in it."

Athletic Director Bob Quinn echoed Snyder's sentiments.

"We're absolutely thrilled. It's a great deal for her and us," he said.

Zafir also competes in high school swimming with the co-op team representing both Wheaton high schools.

"This puts increased pressure on her, but all of our athletes are under pressure," Quinn said.

Zafir has no second thoughts about the sacrifice she makes to stay competitive.

"It's all worth it," she said. "Swimming will take me to college one day. Then there are the meets and the traveling I get to do. Plus, my teammates are awesome. It's a well-put-together team."

Zafir hopes people will see more about the sport than the meets won and records set.

"Remember, it's not just about winning and getting there first," she said. "It's also about doing the best you can. It's something you do for yourself."