Tar Heels Reflect On FINA World Championship Experience
July 7, 2022 | Swimming & Diving
CHAPEL HILL – Summer is a busy time for intercollegiate swimmers and divers who journey into international competition and that is true for a foursome of Tar Heels.
Alex Hart, Lilly Higgs, Patrick Hussey, and Olivia Nel all competed at the 2022 International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Swimming and Diving Championships in Budapest last month, competing against some of the top athletes across the globe.
"Being my first big international competition, when I saw a lot of these big stars, I was a little star-struck," Hussey said. "That made it a little more stressful and harder to focus, but for the next time I'll be more used to it thanks to this experience."
Hussey wasn't the only Tar Heel making his international championship debut, Higgs and Nel raced at a senior-level international event for the first time as well and each was making their initial visit to the central European country of Hungary.
"I just wanted to embrace the entire experience," Nel said. "I think it was important for me to do that since it was my first senior international meet. I'll be able to go into the next competition with a little more knowledge about what to do and how to act, especially being new to the international scene."
"It was an eight-day meet and I swam on day two and day seven, so I had a lot of time between races," Higgs explained. "I tried to explore as much as I could. That's one of my favorite parts of going, is that we get to go to all these cool places and experience the different cultures."
Representing Team Canada, Hussey posted a personal-best time of 2:00.24 in the 200 LCM butterfly event and qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. He also helped the 4x200m relay team to an 11th place finish.
"Being my first race on the international stage, it was good to get a best time," he said. "I had the relay two days later and it wasn't what I wanted. There is a lot more pressure on the relay because I was with three teammates who had been here for so long and I got nervous, and I didn't perform my best."
Although she has been a North Carolina resident for most of her life, Higgs was born in the Bahamas and represented the Caribbean country in Budapest.
A two-time Bahamas national champion, she posted season-best times in the 50 and 100 LCM breaststroke.
"It's an intense competition, but I was happy with my times considering where we are in the training block," Higgs said. "I'm competing in the Commonwealth Games later in July and for me, this was just the first meet of the summer. I was training through it and focusing on Commonwealth Games."
Swimming for South Africa, Nel finished in the top 25 of both the 50 and 100 LCM backstroke, posting a season-best time in the 50.
"I was a little disappointed with my 50 race because I slipped off the start, and I felt like I had a chance to make it to the semifinal," Nel said. "It was unfortunate that had to happen, but I wasn't unhappy because I know I'll have another chance."
A native of the bordering country of Austria, Hart was able to dive in front of his family and friends.
"It was amazing," Hart stated. "I used to get nervous when my parents or friends would watch me dive. I invited a lot of friends and family. It's a three-hour drive from my home and it was quite a bit of a group there. I loved it."
Hart reached the semifinals of the men's three-meter springboard competition, achieving a goal he set for himself years ago.
"That was a huge step for me," Hart said. "Getting into the top 18 of the world is like a dream for me. It tells that there is more to go, but I saw I have the potential to get into the final. I'm stoked that I made it this far and I'm excited for next year."
Higgs, Hussey, and Nel are all scheduled to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England beginning July 28.
Alex Hart, Lilly Higgs, Patrick Hussey, and Olivia Nel all competed at the 2022 International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Swimming and Diving Championships in Budapest last month, competing against some of the top athletes across the globe.
"Being my first big international competition, when I saw a lot of these big stars, I was a little star-struck," Hussey said. "That made it a little more stressful and harder to focus, but for the next time I'll be more used to it thanks to this experience."
Hussey wasn't the only Tar Heel making his international championship debut, Higgs and Nel raced at a senior-level international event for the first time as well and each was making their initial visit to the central European country of Hungary.
"I just wanted to embrace the entire experience," Nel said. "I think it was important for me to do that since it was my first senior international meet. I'll be able to go into the next competition with a little more knowledge about what to do and how to act, especially being new to the international scene."
"It was an eight-day meet and I swam on day two and day seven, so I had a lot of time between races," Higgs explained. "I tried to explore as much as I could. That's one of my favorite parts of going, is that we get to go to all these cool places and experience the different cultures."
Representing Team Canada, Hussey posted a personal-best time of 2:00.24 in the 200 LCM butterfly event and qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. He also helped the 4x200m relay team to an 11th place finish.
"Being my first race on the international stage, it was good to get a best time," he said. "I had the relay two days later and it wasn't what I wanted. There is a lot more pressure on the relay because I was with three teammates who had been here for so long and I got nervous, and I didn't perform my best."
Although she has been a North Carolina resident for most of her life, Higgs was born in the Bahamas and represented the Caribbean country in Budapest.
A two-time Bahamas national champion, she posted season-best times in the 50 and 100 LCM breaststroke.
"It's an intense competition, but I was happy with my times considering where we are in the training block," Higgs said. "I'm competing in the Commonwealth Games later in July and for me, this was just the first meet of the summer. I was training through it and focusing on Commonwealth Games."
Swimming for South Africa, Nel finished in the top 25 of both the 50 and 100 LCM backstroke, posting a season-best time in the 50.
"I was a little disappointed with my 50 race because I slipped off the start, and I felt like I had a chance to make it to the semifinal," Nel said. "It was unfortunate that had to happen, but I wasn't unhappy because I know I'll have another chance."
A native of the bordering country of Austria, Hart was able to dive in front of his family and friends.
"It was amazing," Hart stated. "I used to get nervous when my parents or friends would watch me dive. I invited a lot of friends and family. It's a three-hour drive from my home and it was quite a bit of a group there. I loved it."
Hart reached the semifinals of the men's three-meter springboard competition, achieving a goal he set for himself years ago.
"That was a huge step for me," Hart said. "Getting into the top 18 of the world is like a dream for me. It tells that there is more to go, but I saw I have the potential to get into the final. I'm stoked that I made it this far and I'm excited for next year."
Higgs, Hussey, and Nel are all scheduled to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England beginning July 28.
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Distance Free, IM
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Free, Back
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