Sterling, Va. — In order to be the best, you have to train with the best, and that’s just what Potomac Falls High School freshman Janika Perezous plans to do.
Perezous has been selected to participate at USA Swimming’s National Diversity Select Camp in Colorado Springs from May 5-8.
[adrotate banner=”18″]“The part of camp I am most excited about is meeting new people from around the country,” Perezous said. “Some of the attendees are from the same region as me, while others are from far away. It’s pretty cool that a bunch of people with not much in common – save swimming – come together to learn and train.”
The camp – which takes place at the Olympic Training Center – is four days of intense training and testing, along with lectures and presentations by USA Swimming staff on mental preparation, nutrition and race analysis.
“Just going to the Olympic Training Center [is going to be exciting],” said Perezous, who swims competitively for SNOW Swimming. “People have described it to me, and I can’t wait to see it for myself! I think there is going to be a class about preparing and making healthy foods, which is good, since I love to eat!”
Participants at the National Diversity Select Camp are all from underrepresented ethnicities within USA Swimming and among the very best in the country in their respective age groups. Perezous is one of just 48 student-athletes selected to participate in this year’s camp.
Perezous – who capped off her freshman year at Potomac Falls with a third-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke at the VHSL 5A State championship – is excited to represent the Panthers at the national level.
“It feels great to represent Potomac Falls,” Perezous said. “Even though I haven’t even been there for a full year yet, I’m super hyped to help my school get some recognition.”
Loudoun County continues to churn out top-level swimming talent with at least a dozen student-athletes – including Perezous’ Potomac Falls teammate Luay Hilmi – committed to swim at the collegiate level.
“I think it’s from the dedication of the swimmers. Their coaches have helped them tweak and perfect the swimming, but ultimately it’s up to the swimmer to put all the hard work into action,” Perezous said. “The achievements of local swimmers have also affected the success of the area. Success can be infectious; one person’s positivity will lift up an entire group. Whenever one person in my group does well, I think it pushes others to do well. That’s where the friendly competitiveness comes in to push us all to do our best!”