TERRE HAUTE —
Evan Austin, a 2011 Terre Haute South graduate, can’t wait to hit the water for the first time representing his home country, the USA.
Austin, 19, is one of just 14 members of the United States Paralympics 2012 men’s swim team and will be competing in London from Aug. 29 to Sept. 9.
“I’m really just looking forward to that first event, which for me is the 100 [meter] butterfly,” Austin said Wednesday. “I’m really excited about just getting in there for the first time and showing [team] USA what I can do and that they made the right choice in putting me on the team.”
Austin, a swimmer since grade school and a member of the Terre Haute Torpedoes swim club, qualified for the 2012 games earlier this summer in Bismarck, N.D. His top performance was in the 100 meter breast stroke event; however, his times were good enough to make the team in every style of swimming.
“He has evolved into an all-round swimmer,” said Austin’s coach, Jeff Thompson. “It’s been fun to watch.”
In 2008, Austin failed by a whisker to make Team USA, although he was named as an alternate. Immediately after that experience, Austin, then just 15, made up his mind to qualify for the 2012 team.
“The last four years of my life has just been ‘Operation London,’” Austin said.
On Wednesday, Thompson, who also coaches the Terre Haute South Vigo swim team, got a tattoo on his back, behind his right shoulder. Years ago, he promised he would get a tattoo of the Olympic rings if any of his athletes made it to the games.
“It was an off-the-cuff remark,” Thompson said, but it was a promise Austin has not allowed his coach to forget. Austin plans to get an identical tattoo, but not for a while. You’re not supposed to swim for two weeks after getting a tattoo, Austin said.
Since qualifying for the U.S. team, Austin has had a U.S. team training event in Canada. In about two weeks, he’ll be headed to Germany for 12 days of training and team bonding before heading to London for the Paralympics.
“I’m really, really looking forward to being an ambassador for this country and being a representative of Team USA,” Austin said. “It’s an unbelievable honor and I’m cherishing every second of it.”
Austin, who will be accompanied to London by his parents, older brother, Adam, and two other family members, will be competing with athletes from around the world in the Paralympics, all having a disability of some sort, from blindness to the absence of limbs. In Austin’s case, his leg muscles have not developed below his knee, meaning he is unable to kick properly in the breast stroke, his top event. In fact, his legs act as a sort of anchor that he must compensate for with his upper body.
Austin has been a great representative of his high school team, the Terre Haute Torpedoes and will certainly represent his country well in London, Thompson said.
“Evan has been extremely confident for the last four years,” Thompson said. “It wasn’t arrogance. He just had a sense of confidence that’s hard to describe. I’m not sure there’s anything he can’t do.”
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
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Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Felt that one, coach? Terre Haute South swim coach Jeff Thompson feels the sting of the needle as tattoo artist Josh Ellis works his magic Wednesday at Body Art Ink in the Honey Creek Mall.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Upholding his part of the bet: Terre Haute South swim coach Jeff Thompson (left) describes the feeling of the tattoo process to Katherine Senseman, Evan Austin, Dalton Mitchell, Chandler Bray, Nolan Roach, Rachel Senseman and Mercedez Bray on Wednesday at Body Art Ink in the Honey Creek Mall.
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For an Olympian he knows: Terre Haute South swim coach Jeff Thompson admires his new tatoo of the Olympic rings after its completion Wednesday at Body Art Ink in the Honey Creek Mall. Years ago, he promised he would get a tattoo of the Olympic rings if any of his athletes made it to the games.
Discussion
Olympic promise
Swimming coach honors commitment made to athlete that reached Paralympics
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