When senior Nicolas Ogawa first began competitive swimming at the age of 12, he didn’t immediately see himself reaching international waters and swimming under the flag of the United States. However, his recent participation as part of the US team in the 2024 World Aquatics World Cup in Incheon, South Korea, is a testament to his dedication to growth in the sport.
In Incheon, Ogawa swam the 100-meter butterfly, 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter breaststroke and 200-meter individual medley.
Ogawa said one challenge he faced was racing in short-course meters, a format he wasn’t accustomed to.
“We usually swim in yards, not meters,” Ogawa said. “It was definitely very difficult for me to adjust.”
Unlike high-stake competitions where qualifying times are crucial, Ogawa said his training before the meet remained the same to help him keep consistency and focus.
“In the grand scheme of our season, how we did at this competition didn’t really matter,” Ogawa said. “We kept our training pretty regular, even though once we got to Korea, practices got a little easier to focus on what we’d be racing.”
Still, Ogawa said it felt surreal to meet some of his icons, including Olympic gold medalist Chad le Clos and NCAA champions, athletes he grew up idolizing.
“It was pretty humbling to see such amazing athletes,” Ogawa said. “Seeing them in person, it’s crazy. Being around Olympic medalists and record holders was insane.”
Another challenge Ogawa faced was managing the pressure to perform, as he often felt intimidated by the competition.
“Everyone was so much bigger, taller and stronger than I am,” Ogawa said. “I’m in the waiting room with these massive, six foot tall guys, slapping themselves, making all these noises, and I’m like, ‘Holy, I am not in my element.’”
Ogawa also said he even found the preparations for the event, such as undergoing cap, goggles and suit checks alongside well-seasoned athletes to be an intense process.
“For my first race, the 100 fly, I was in the ready room with two NCAA champions from Berkeley and Stanford,” he said. “I was just sitting there like, ‘Woah.’”
Paly teammate and junior Romy Kirby said Ogawa’s dedication to the sport is unmatched and inspires the team.
“He is always motivating the rest of us,” Kirby said. “He has this amazing ability to bring energy and focus to each and every practice, and he never settles for anything less than his best.”
Ogawa said Incheon was also a chance for him to see how the extensive sacrifices he has made for swimming have paid off.
“The entire year, my life needs to revolve around school and swimming,” Ogawa said. “Everything else needs to just fall to the wayside. I barely hang out with my friends and family because whenever I’m not swimming, I’ll just be doing work.”
And despite his busy schedule, Ogawa said he has found ways to balance his commitments.
“In a sense, instead of giving up on the things, I’ve had to find a way to sort of fit those things in my life,” Ogawa said.
For Ogawa, his commitment to swimming goes beyond competition — it’s a relentless pursuit of perfection, where the tiniest adjustments can make all the difference.
“I like swimming because I love practicing every day to try to improve,” Ogawa said. “It almost feels like an art because we can spend hours trying to improve the smallest things such as hand potion or body angle just to go hundredths of a second faster.”
