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Get To Know Palo Alto's Jasmine Tosky

by Josh Huger (MrUtopia)

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Created August 28th, 2010 08:46:53 AM

Modified August 28th, 2010 08:46:53 AM

This interview is with Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics' Jasmine Tosky. Having qualified for the Jr. National team, Senior Nationals, and holding several incredible records, Jasmine is a rising star.

In this Swim Utopia interview we learn what motivates Jasmine to succeed and what college programs top her list as she enters her junior year of high school.

Let’s get started!


What school do you attend?
Palo Alto Senior High School, CA

What club and high school do you swim for?
Club: Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics       High School: Palo Alto Senior High School

What year in school are you?
I’m entering 11th grade

Are you a high school all - American?
yes

If so, how many times?
SCY- all but the mile

What is the biggest meet that you have qualified for so far?
Senior Nationals

What would you say your biggest accomplishments have been in swimming?
For me, making the Jr. National team was a great accomplishment.  Traveling to different countries with other fast and amazing swimmers around my age was really a whole new experience.  I got to meet new people, swimmers and coaches, and swim in the same pool as World Class athletes.  Swimming at international meets expanded my understanding about the word of swimming. 

What are your top times?
100 scy fly   52.77
200 scy fly   1:55.63
200 scy free   1:44.11
400 lcm IM    4:44.71

What motivates you to do the things that you do?
The idea that I can be better motivates me to work harder at practice and race.  And of
course, my friends and family and coach are always there to support me.

What do your coaches do to help set you up for success in and out of the pool?
Great coaches coach their athletes in and out of the water.  From criticizing and commenting on your technique in the pool, to teasing and joking with you, they help turn you into an overall better person. 

Any hint on what colleges might be on the top of your list for the future?
So far, I’ve been interested in Cal, Stanford, Texas, and a couple other schools that have a reputation in swimming and academics.

What would you say is the hardest practice that you have ever done?
The most recent hardest practice I’ve swum is swimming 200s after 200s, all out.  The yardage wasn’t very high but the intensity was.  Also, it was one of those days where your stroke feels flat, and your limbs burn every time you take a stroke.  I was not a happy camper but I managed to pull through.
But the practice that tops the hardest practice……I can’t remember.   It took place at a camp when I was around 10, at an indoor pool that reeked of chlorine.  All I can recall is that I had to excuse myself to the bathroom, in the middle of the main IM set, to catch my breath.  I was so exhausted, in body and mind that I just needed to take a breather.  I felt ashamed that I had to stop in the middle of the set because I thought it was too hard, but as I talked to the other swimmers, they either pulled the same move as me, or just stopped at the wall and tried to hide from the coaches.  It made me feel a little better but didn’t relieve me from being sore.

Do you have any pre-meet or pre-race rituals?
It sounds silly but the day before a big meet, I tend to cut my nails.  A lot of swimmers I know try to grow out their nails thinking that they’ll be able to pull more water with the extra centimeter of length.  Thou, when I’m trying to out touch someone I’m racing, I usually hit the wall with my fingertips.  I don’t want the pain of a broken nail.

What is your favorite pump-up band or artist to listen to before racing?
Rap, pop, any type of music can get me in the zone to race.  Sometimes, it just takes some wild teammates to pump you up.

Please list any records that you might have
13-14 lcm 200 fly Pacific Record
15-16 scy 100 free Pacific Record
15-16 lcm 200 fly Pacific Record
15-16 lcm 400 IM Pacific Record


What are some things that people may not know about you?
I don’t like taking hot showers, especially during meets.  So I always have to take cold showers, which isn’t bad at all because I don’t have to share the shower.  The down side is that I can’t sit in a hot tube for more than 10 minutes.