Bend Swim Club’s Campbell McKean heading to U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials; his mom qualified for same events years ago
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)- At Juniper Swim and Fitness, the Bend Swim Club had a celebratory send-off for Campbell McKean. He's headed to the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials after breaking two OSAA state records earlier this year as a junior at Caldera.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the facility, seeing what it's like, and especially watching all the pros swim, because a lot of them will go the fastest they go," Campbell said Wednesday. For the first time ever, the trials are being held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana, where the Indianapolis Colts play.
It's a nine-day event that starts Saturday, and much of the Trials will be broadcast on NBC and NewsChannel 21.
"I think it'd be really cool to see how all the pros lead and to see how the USA national team works, especially internationally, at the Paris Olympics," Campbell added.
The star swimmer broke the OSAA record for the 200-meter individual medley and the 100 breaststroke. He will swim in the same events for the Trials, something his mom did in 1992 as a senior at Mountain View.
Becky McKean, Campbell's mom, said, "I keep telling Campbell, 'Just enjoy every moment. You put in all the work - enjoy the experience and relish in every aspect -, the smell of the pool, the sound of the pool."
Becky was a four-time state champion herself and went on to swim at Arizona.
Campbell said, "She was really good, and really fast, like top-level. I always thought it was really cool. Being able to do the Olympic Trials, just like her, is really cool."
His mom went to the Trials twice, qualifying for the finals in the 100 breaststroke.
With her experience, Campbell can talk with his mom, to help him stay calm and confident. Becky said, "I told him the other day, he said he was getting a little anxious and I said, 'Just remember - it's another swim meet - in between two lane lines is the same race."
Campbell said "I don't think I could have gone to the Trials if she didn't push me."
Campbell has two other brothers who followed in their mom's path, one swimming at the University of Utah and another swimming in Spain. The sport runs in his blood, andthe young star is just getting started.
"Just saying that I've trained as much as I can, done what I can to be here, so I think I should just go for it," he said.
Becky believes Campbell's journey can go much farther than he thinks: "And once he kind of believes that he's good, he's going to go really far."
