Ever since high school, Erika Stewart’s normal weekly routine includes waking up at the crack of dawn and jumping into a pool. She spends 20 hours a week training for swim, making her practically an aquatic animal. Erika is a fourth year on the UVA swim team and a former Olympic competitor who somehow finds time to balance friends, school, and her rigorous swim schedule.
Q: When did you first begin to swim?
A: I first started swimming around seven years old in a summer league but it wasn’t competitive. I decided to become more competitive around 12 or 13, joining a year round swim team. I don’t think it got serious until my freshman year of high school.
Q: When did you swim in the Olympics?
A: It was the December before my first year here at UVA. I made the Olympic Swim Team for Colombia, South America. Making the team was shocking but incredibly exciting to experience that at such a young age.
Q: What event did you compete in?
A: the 200 individual medley
Q: Why did you compete for Colombia?
A: I got dual citizenship at the age of 15. My dad is from Colombia and dual citizenship meant I could compete internationally. I swam internationally for Colombia in a few meets but never at such a high level. I knew competing for Colombia would teach me my family’s culture and language. I also knew it would open up a lot of doors for me. The US is more competitive and only the professional top swimmers get a chance.
Q: Do you ever find it difficult balancing school work and swim?
A: It’s definitely a challenge. We care a lot about our team GPA and we pride ourselves in having a team GPA of over 3.0. My coach, a UVA graduate, cares a lot about school. We really take it seriously and strong academics are a goal for us. It’s something I’ve had to balance a long time so I’ve gotten used to it.
Q: What is your favorite thing about swimming?
A: Because I’m a fourth year, my role on the team is a lot more significant than it was in past years; I can be a leader. I care a lot about the team and want us to succeed. We’ve won four ACC titles in the last four years and we face the challenge of getting a fifth one. I’m super excited to work hard and succeed as a team. We’re all so competitive and we all work so hard that the end result is so worth it.
Q: What are your most proud moments?
A: This is really dorky but one of my most proud moments was when I got picked to be on “Hoo’s Achieving.” People always used to make fun of me for being ditzy or not doing that well in school but I actually do work hard. I got picked to be put on the wall of JPJ for “Hoo’s Achieving”. Another really proud moment for me was when I decided to represent Colombia. It felt great to make my family proud.
Q: What’s your most embarrassing moment?
A: I was in my car on my way back from school and I was singing “Where is the Love” by the Black Eyed Peas. I was thinking “Oh man, I sound kinda good!” I took my phone and on a voice note I recorded myself and listened to what I sounded like. It was so bad! Then I accidentally sent it to my best friend and she literally died and showed everyone. It was so embarrassing. When anyone would see me that heard it they’d start to sing “Where is the Love”.
Q: Where do you see yourself in the future?
A: I’m a sociology major but I would love to stay with swimming and work for the Olympics, maybe on the Olympic committee. I love sports, it’s my life. Working with other people who love sports would be really nice. I don’t see myself at a desk and I don’t have my heart set on doing just one thing.