Edward Chen '28 Recruiting Profile

As a dedicated swimmer with over six years of competitive experience, many aspects of my athletic learning have contributed not only my athletic skills but also to my self-determined and disciplined personality. Swimming has been a journey with ups and downs for me, shaping my character and teaching me the value of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork to achieve my goals.

Building on hard work is a vital part of being an athlete and facing multiple difficult challenges over a long period of time has contributed to building my work value. When I was younger, I was not able to place in competitions. I couldn’t even place within the top 10. I felt limited from my lack of skill and wanted to improve. When I went to my coach to express my frustrations, he started to push me harder and harder. He constantly encouraged me and helped me build on my self-esteem. My significant improvements lead to me becoming a vital member of my team. I pushed myself beyond my limits so I could continue to grow in my sport.

I persevered in ways I never thought that I could, and I am very proud of my accomplishments. In 2024 summer, I went to the US for swim training. As I attended swim meets, I found myself loving the place. With kind and friendly teammates and interesting practices, I enjoyed the whole summer. I bonded with my teammates, and we pushed each other to work harder than ever. During a Mission Viejo meet, my teammates and I broke the 4*50 freestyle relay 13-14 USA national age group record. We were dumbfounded but overjoyed that our perseverance brought us so far.

I hope to continue improving with my determination and passion for swimming.