But the senior from Ouray, Colo., opts to use her height and skills as a force for the Fighting Irish, not on the basketball court, but in the water, as one of the captains of the women's swimming team. As the 2000 Olympics went on in Sydney, Australia, most Notre Dame students skimmed the sports section to see if the USA was leading in the medal count, or maybe tuned into a few choice events. It certainly wasn't anything personal. For Nixon, it was. I have some really good friends on the team, so it's pretty cool.
Many children grow up idolizing some sports stars.
Not many find themselves swimming in the same heat of the Olympic Trials against those same childhood idols. This is not to say it's always easy for Nixon to watch Olympic swimming. It is inspirational though for my future. And Nixon is going to take inspiration from her experience at this summer's Trials. Like any other person, she has to grapple with would have, could have, should have, but instead of letting it get her down, she aims to use it to her advantage.