Get To Know Florida State's Charlotte Broadbent

by Josh Huger (MrUtopia)

Florida State University’s Charlotte Broadbent is this week’s featured swimmer. Charlotte, a rising senior, has enjoyed many successes while with the Seminoles.

Those successes have come in the forms of school records in the 500 and 1650 freestyles, All-ACC Honors, and NCAA Qualifying times.

In this SwimUtopia interview Charlotte tells us about what the Florida State coaching staff does to help put her in the best position for success and how training here in the United States has differed from her home back in England.

Let’s get started!


What made you choose Florida State University?

I loved everything about FSU.  Of course the weather and location of FSU is a huge plus.  Growing up in the North of England made me really hate the cold weather and going from scraping snow off my wind shield before practice in the morning swimming outside was just fantastic.  I also love the team and the coaching staff at FSU.  Gary Taylor is by far the most outstanding coach I have ever had.

What other schools did you look at during your recruiting process?

Coming from England, I didn’t really understand the recruiting process.  With many British swimming friends already being at FSU and the head coach, Neil Harper, being originally from England, I thought the easiest transition could be made for me by going to FSU so I didn’t really look at any other schools!  Although I did come to FSU as a 100 and 200 backstroker and it wasn’t until Thanksgiving of my sophomore year that I moved into the distance group!

What places did you come in at this year’s ACC Championships?

I came 5th in the 500 Freestyle, 6th in the 1650, and 12th in the 400IM.

Did those results match up with the goals you set at the beginning of this season?

My 500 swim was a very exciting swim and was bang on my goal time.  I loved every minute of that race and when I looked at the clock I was overwhelmed with happiness.  I was excited to then compete in the mile two days later as that is my stronger event.  I didn’t achieve my goal in the mile and ended up finishing 6th in this event after a tough race.  As soon as I finished the race, I was eager to get back to work to try and achieve my goal at a last chance meet.  My 400IM was also a little disappointing, however, I addressed my weaknesses and I am working to correct them for next year!

What does having done so well this past season do to your confidence going into your senior season next year and beyond?

I swam really well this year in the 500 which isn’t really my strongest event so it was a great feeling.  The mile is definitely my forte; however, and is what I love to swim the most.  Having a slight disappointment of not swimming to the standard I wished in this event this year, has made me hungrier and even more determined to make my senior year as memorable as possible.

Your roster page says that you are from England. What is training here in the United States like compared to back at home?

When I was at home, I was training for the 100 and 200 backstroke so because I swim distance now in the US it is quite a lot different. The main thing that stands out to me, however, about the difference between swimming at home and swimming at school is the enthusiasm and love that FSU has for each other. We are all so vocal at FSU and get behind each other, it makes you not only want to swim fast for yourself but also for your team. It is great to be part of a family that wants every other person to swim just as fast as they do. It's a great feeling to have so many people behind me when I stand on the block to race.

What are some of your goals for this upcoming season?

I want to be an All-ACC and an All-American in the mile.  I have always had extremely tough goals for myself but with this being my final collegiate season, I am determined to achieve them!

What is it like training with everyone at FSU?

I am in the distance group at FSU and I love it. Gary Taylor is an amazing coach and due to the fact that there are only eight people in our group, we are a really close nit group and we work really well together. It’s really nice as we get together out of the pool and have dinners etc which is always fun. We all work so hard and respect each other in the pool so it is great to hang out as a group outside of the pool as well. Although there are only a few of us, we are a very vocal group in the pool. We love to cheer for each other and have a laugh, when we get some time on the wall! It's also great great to hear the rest of the team cheer for us. We often here "you got it d-bags" when the other groups have finished their workouts. It's so awesome to swim with a team that are totally behind each other. When the whole team gets to swim together at the start of the season, it's a great time as we all get behind each other and thrive off that!

What does the FSU coaching staff do to help set you up for success?

The distance coach at FSU, Gary Taylor, is not only a great coach, but a great motivator. He has such high expectations for me that I am constantly pushing my body to the limit. It’s great to have someone challenging me, both mentally and physically, constantly that believes so strongly in what I can do. It definitely makes me have higher standards for myself. Gary Taylor pushes me, critiques my strokes, inspires me and supports me.

What has been your most memorable moment so far with the team?

I think I would have to say beating UF in the FSU vs.UF dual meet in November last year. We were in a different place in the pool to where UF were at the meet, but it was still a great feeling for the team. The girl’s team definitely benefitted from this win as they were the previous Nationals champions so it gave us a lot of confidence that our hard work is paying off and encouraged us to keep working harder. Due to it being a FSU vs. UF meet, the natural Florida rivalry was present so it really was a fantastic feeling to finally win. Not only did it give us confidence, but the atmosphere that we created at that meet, as a team, was great. We were all 100% behind each other and we fought our hearts out. It was a great and memorable meet.

What would you say your biggest accomplishment has been in swimming?

In 2010 I finished third in the ACC in the 1650 free and qualified for NCAA’s in the process.  But I also came third at the 2007 Nationals in England qualifying for the European Junior swim meet in Belgium the same year.

What are your top times?

1650 free yards - 16.16
500   free yards  - 4.42
400   IM yards    - 4.16

What would you say motivates you?

A great team spirit really motivates me.  Seeing my teammates swim fast, get behind each other and be happy really motivates me to swim well.  When the team and I are happy, I swim fast so I try to make sure I am as happy, upbeat and confidant as possible before I race!

What are some things that people may not know about you?

I laugh at everything and anything.. I am constantly laughing!

What is your favorite pump-up band or artist to listen to before racing?

I love to listen to fast up beat music that I know and can sing along to in my head.  I love to sing, therefore singing to any song before I swim makes me happy but I do prefer fast, up-beat music to get my blood pumping!

Do you have any pre-meet rituals?

Since I have moved to America, my pre-meet rituals have decreased significantly.  When I was at home my Mum always made me the same pasta dinner that I loved, the night before every meet.  With meets being at different locations now, I just eat whatever is in front of me!  Right before I get in the pool, I always check that my goggles are pressed against my eyes so tight (sometimes too tight!) to make sure that they don’t leak water during the race many, many times, but that is the only thing that I really do that stays the same from race to race!

What records do you hold?

I hold the FSU records in the 500 and 1650 freestyle

What is your favorite food?

I love Chinese and Indian food at home in England.  Nothing beats an Indian takeaway, but with that I have to drink a coke a’cola.. coke a ‘cola is definitely my weakness!

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My mum is definitely the most influential person in my life.  Even though she is still in England while I am in America, no matter what time during the day I might need her she is there for more.  She is an extremely strong and powerful woman and I wouldn’t have achieved what I have without her.  It has been so great seeing her sat in the stands at ACC’s the past two years and last year she also came to two dual meets!

What would you say is the hardest practice that you have ever done?

Being a distance swimmer I have done many sets that are maybe mentally tougher than physical, however I would say 80x200’s and 28x500’s were definitely at the top!

At what point in your life did you know that you wanted to take swimming to the next level?

I think when I was younger I definitely realized that I wanted to take swimming to the next level. Placing 11th at Olympic trials in the 200back in 2008 definitely kept me wanting more as I wasn’t 100% happy with my race (although I never am!).  

Please list any other additional information that you would like to share!

I’m hoping to be a journalist for a sports or fashion magazine in the future.

Be sure to check out our list of past Featured Swimmers here