Alice Ogura | Sophomore | Elkhorn North High School
Elkhorn North High School sophomore Alice Ogura has big dreams. “I see myself swimming for the Junior National USA select team and the National select team,” she said. “I plan on swimming in college and hopefully going to the Olympics someday.”
Ogura has always loved to swim. She began swim lessons at age four and took to it immediately. “The more I went, the more I loved being in the water, whether I was in a hotel pool or playing in the ocean. Even now it’s my favorite place to be. Water makes me calm and relaxed.”
As a freshman last year, she was nervous to join the Elkhorn Swim and Dive team, but the warm welcome from her teammates and coaches made her feel at home. “As the season progressed, I became more confident and comfortable with the team. We always had fun at practices, meets, and team bondings. At swim meets the coaches told us to dominate each swim, which made me feel determined and confident to give that swim my all.”
Elkhorn Swim and Dive coach Jay Thiltgen believes Ogura is a gifted swimmer. “She has a tremendous feel for the water, and constantly works on improving her technique. She enjoys the sport as a whole, but she enjoys racing the most. When given the opportunity to compete, she finds a way to move into an additional gear or speed level.”
Ogura also competes for her club team, Swim Omaha. “For the club team, it’s more about individual sports than team sports, so it’s a competition with my own time,” she shared.
“When one of us gets their PR (personal record), we celebrate together and encourage each other. The best part about my club team is going to a meet almost every weekend and getting to hang out with my best friends, who I also spend every day with at practice.”
Swim Omaha coach Docker Hartfield said Ogura has talent that exceeds her age. “She has an uncanny ability to assess the situation and perform to the competition at hand. Alice has an extraordinary natural feel for the water and great kinesthetic sense, using her strokes to change speeds during the race without noticeable tempo or technique changes. This deceptive skill works very well in the racing environment and will catch a trained coach’s eye.”
Her family support keeps her focused. “When I was younger, I would have ups and downs, and there were days I told my parents I wanted to quit swimming. Luckily, I have my mom by my side. She always pushes and challenges my limits. She encourages me to have a positive mindset and be strong in the sport I truly love and most importantly, to have fun. That’s helped me get through hard times.”
Ogura achieved great success in her freshman year, becoming state champion in backstroke, but she’s most proud of how she approaches the task. “I equip myself with the mindset to focus on what’s in front of me right now. At each swim meet, there is only a short time in between the events. I have learned how to process my feeling for each swim quickly, good or bad, and reset for the next one.”
For example, during the state meet at finals, Ogura didn’t perform the way she’d hoped in the 100m fly. “I walked over to my coaches with some tears,” she said. “Coach [Thiltgen] told me, ‘You only get to be mad for 5 minutes and then you have to focus and get ready for your next race.’ After those five minutes, he reminded me that I can do anything, and this was my chance to go all out. I tried my hardest off the block, and swam my best through the water with a solid focus to win. The last 25 meters my arms were so tired, but I didn’t give up, and I finished to the wall. My coaches had smiles, my teammates were behind the blocks cheering, and I could hear my parents and team in the stands. I went over to my coaches with the biggest smile on my face and headed over to the podium. I bring this mindset to each and every meet I attend.”
