Malibu swimmer goes for championship gold

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Malibu swimmer Jordan Wilimovsky competed in the US Open Water Championships recently. Above, Wilimovsky swimming during a competition earlier this year. 

When coach Dave Kelsheimer joined Team Santa Monica swim club in 2010, he brought a rigorous training schedule that would have his swimmers go from practicing five times a week to swimming 10 times a week.

Kelsheimer didn’t know how some of his students would react. But Jordan Wilimovsky, a promising 16-year-old from Malibu, embraced the challenge. 

“Jordan’s reaction [to the training] was ‘let’s do it.’ He had a spark and desire to be successful,” Kelsheimer said. “He wasn’t afraid of what I was proposing.”

Three years later, Wilimovsky has earned a spot on the United States National Team to compete in the 2013 FINA World Championships next week in Barcelona, Spain from July 19 to Aug. 3.

Now 19, the Malibu High School alumnus is one of eight competitors who will compete in open water events. The other 43 swimmers on the national team will compete in pool events.

Wilimovsky will compete in the 25K open water event in Barcelona. He made the national team after placing fourth in the 10K and 5K events at the 2013 USA Swimming Open Water National Championships in May at Castaic Lake in California.

“I’m excited to go to Barcelona and represent the United States,” Wilimovsky said. “I’m a little nervous. I haven’t been in a competition of this caliber, but I am confident in my training and preparation.” 

Wilimovsky’s preparation began when his club coach, Kelsheimer, took his training to the next level. Through long hours of practice, Wilimovsky went from not having a single nationally ranked time to becoming the 2012 Junior National Champion in the men’s 1500m freestyle race. Last August, he added to his list of accomplishments when he claimed a silver medal in the 7.5km race at the Junior World Open Water Championships. 

In 18 months of working with Kelsheimer, Wilimovsky shaved a minute and a half off his races. 

“Until my junior year I didn’t train that often,” Wilimovsky said. “I started working with Dave and got faster.” 

With Wilimovsky’s drastic improvement in his junior year, Kelsheimer wanted to find a college in which Wilimovsky would excel. Kelsheimer called Jarod Schroeder, head coach for the men’s swimming team at Northwestern University, in Wilimovsky’s senior year at Malibu High School to see if there was room for him at Northwestern. 

Although Northwestern’s recruiting period was over, they were still looking for a long distance swimmer like Wilimovsky. 

When Schroeder first saw Wilimovsky swim he said the 5-foot, 9-inch Wilimovsky swam “larger than his stature.” 

“When you see him on the blocks, he’s the little guy out there. But in the water, he looks a lot taller,” Schroeder said. “We’re lucky to have him, and so is Team USA.” 

Although he was not heavily recruited or offered any scholarship money, Wilimovsky went into Northwestern as their top long distance swimmer. 

Wilimovsky’s hard work and good attitude has paid off so far for the Wildcats. 

“Jordan is definitely a workhorse. He likes hard work and doesn’t complain about it,” Schroeder said. “Some kids begrudge some of the harder workouts, but he’s excited about them and challenges himself day in and day out.” 

As a freshman, Wilimovsky has made an impact at Northwestern in the short time he’s been swimming for the Wildcats. 

Wilimovsky br o k e Northwestern’s record for the mile, twice. The first time he beat the previous record of 15:08.78, set by Brian Davis in 2004, at the Big Ten Championships with a time of 15:03.07. A few weeks later, he broke his own record in the mile race with a time of 14:58.80. 

“You don’t expect a freshman to make such a big impact. It’s a rarity,” Schroeder said. “We knew we had a diamond in the rough. We’re excited for the next three years with him.” 

To prepare for the FINA World Championship Wilimovsky has been swimming twice a day, four times a week with his club coach, Kelsheimer. Wilimovsky is swimming over 12 miles a day and up to 65 miles a week. 

The FINA Open Water Championships will be held July 20-27.