Nathan Olhasso '19 Recruiting Profile

I have been swimming for as long as I can remember.  Within those years I have overcome numerous physical and mental challenges that have given me experience, and the motivation to improve on my swimming pushing myself to be the best I can be.  Starting off my swimming career at the age of five, I struggled with severe asthma which limited my ability in the water. After years of practice (and multiple stops for my inhaler) I now only need it before meets and some practices.  However, my biggest physical set back was in 7th grade when I was diognosed with osteochondritis dessecans (OCD) in my right elbow.  This diognosis came with the news of possibly not being able to swim again, and the potential that I would not have full use of my elbow for the rest of my life.  After finding a surgeon at Shriners Hospital, and being the first child to receive an OATS procedure in an elbow in the USA, I was left with a scar on my knee and my arm in a cast and then a brace for the entire summer. This did not stop me from swimming though.  I participated in my summer league helping to coach, and swimming the 50 freestyle (that is with only one arm starting from inside the water).  It was a long summer.  After I was cleared to use my right arm again I started club swimming again, training just as hard as ever. I am so grateful to those Doctors.  It's now been 3 years and since then I have Improved dramatically on the 100 butterfly. I am about to begin my third year of varsity high school swimming and my 12th year of club swimming.  This experience changed my attitude towards swimming, and reflects how I am as a swimmer as well as how I am as an academic student.  Academics is as important to me as swimming. I approach my studies with the same dedication that I do every swim practice as well as every time I get on deck to coach swimming, another passion of mine.  My experience, as difficult as it was, has shaped who I am today, as a student and a swimmer.  All of which will play a big role as I search for the best fit in a college and a team.