- 2016 Highlights
Personal Statement
My name is Christina Neri and I’m a distance swimmer from Palm Harbor, FL. I’ve been swimming since I was 5 years old and have been a part of PYP since I was 8. Until the age of 13 I was participating in three different sports, those being softball, dance (3 variations) and swimming. However it wasn’t until I was 13 that I decided to completely dedicate myself to swimming as that was what I had started off with and developed a passion for. Around the time I fully dedicated myself to my swimming was when I began to see noticeable improvements in my times, as I was only swimming at the time to keep in shape and stay close to something I loved. Around this time was also when I began distance swimming seriously, developing my stroke, endurance, and mentality going into a longer race or a big competition, since I was newer to those going into high school than the rest of my teammates, who had all been used to the process much sooner than I had.
I have been a member of the PHUHS Canes Swim and Dive Team since my freshman year, specializing in the 200 and 500 freestyle during the season, qualifying for the State Championship in both events in my sophomore and junior year. During club swimming, I swim both the 200 and 500/400, as well as the 1000/800 and the 1650/1500 free. For as long as I have been swimming, good work ethic both in and out of the pool has been important to me, and improving upon my times and the chance to be a better swimmer is what drives me to keep going in the pool every day, even if I feel like I’m having an “off day” in the water. I’m also in the International Baccalaureate program at PHUHS and hope to go to a college to pursue marine biology, with a minor in forensics/criminology. My end goal is to benefit my team in the best way possible, bringing a positive and encouraging environment to the team, while improving myself as a person and as a swimmer.
