Thursday, February 5, 1998
The price is right
FEATURE: Chance to be in Olympics motivates swimming
sensation
By Steve Kim
Daily Bruin Contributor
The scene: a UCLA vs. Cal swim meet. The race: the 100 yard
freestyle. Focus: Lane 5. Subject: Keiko Price.
All eyes are on her. They know what’s going to happen. She’ll
win. She’s won it many times before–most recently in the previous
day’s match-up against Stanford. It’s just a matter of by how much
she’ll win.
She gets up on the block with the solidity of a mythological
warrior ready to go into battle, without compromising poise and
serenity. She has a presence that emits a sense of security–a
fortress unpenetrable from pre-race jitters and anxiety.
Even before the race has begun, the audience has chosen the
winner. And where there is an audience, she turns out a
performance.
At the sound of the beep, Price takes off like a torpedo,
churning her way through the calm water before her and leaving a
trail of vortical havoc behind. She steadily increases her lead
after every turn and ultimately touches the wall first.
In this particular race, she clocked in at 50.58 secs. She’s
done better, but it’s enough to come in a comfortable body-length
ahead of her competition. The previous hour, she took command of
the 200 freestyle race by three full seconds, and helped her
teammates win the 400 medley relay.
Not bad, for a day’s work.
Cool, calm, confident, and definitely competent. If there ever
was a Miss Thing in women’s swimming, she would be Miss Keiko
Price.
Born in New York, raised in Hawaii, Price’s parents decided to
sign her up in the local swim team. At the age of 14, she was the
junior national champion in the 50 and 100 free. The next year, she
participated in the Short Course World Championships. Two years
later, she entered UCLA with an undeniable splash.
Price made immediate impact as a freshman by winning a total of
26 first place finishes last season. She’s on the verge of breaking
school records in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyles. This summer, she
participated in the World University Games and helped Team USA win
the gold in the 400 freestyle. And she’s still getting better.
Head Coach Cyndi Gallagher said, "Keiko is improving leaps and
bounds this year. Last year for her was a learning experience. She
swam really well, but she didn’t have much experience in competing
with really good swimmers. You knew she was processing it all
in.
"Training all summer and the international competition
experience is paying off this year. She’s lifting a lot harder in
the weight room, she’s working on her technique, she’s got all the
confidence in the world. She’s going to go crazy."
First place finishes don’t come easily. One has to work and
train long, less than glamorous hours to reach the top. Price is
willing to do just that.
Price said, "I trust that Cyndi knows what she’s doing, and I do
everything she says."
Even if it means swimming four hours a day and lifting weights.
Price continued, "I actually enjoy swimming. It keeps me in shape.
Weight training makes me sore, but it’s not so that I can’t swim
fast at workouts. I kind of like it because it lets me know I’m
working hard and I’m doing it right.
"I mean, there are times when you wish you can just go home and
chill out, but my goals keep me motivated."
Motivation to work so persistently requires goals worthy of
rationalizing the will. One of her goals is this: As part of a U.S.
Swimming program called Project Sydney, Price is preparing for the
2000 Olympics. And the possibility is promisingly real.
This summer, Price placed seventh in the 50 meter freestyle and
tenth in the 100m free at the U.S. Nationals. She raced against the
likes of Olympic gold medalists Amy Van Dyken and Jenny
Thompson.
Considering how collegiate swimmers specialize in the short
course yard pool instead of the international long course meter
pool, Price swam impressively. In just about two years, Price may
very well place high enough to earn a spot in the Olympic team.
For now, Price is part of the Bruin team. Her short term goals
as a Bruin are to make the top eight in the NCAA championships and
break the school record in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle.
Last year, she swam the 100 butterfly instead of the 200 free,
but shoulder strain kept her away from the fly. During this
season’s Texas Invitational, her coach signed her up for the 200
free without having her trained specifically for the event. That
race ended up qualifying her for the upcoming NCAA championships in
the 200 free.
Price said, "Last year, I was hoping Cyndi wouldn’t put me in
the 200. It’s just too long! I can’t swim the 100 fly this year,
and now, she sticks me in the 200 free. I ended up having a good
race, which I did not expect."
Just about everything Price does in the water breeds success. A
successful female athlete doesn’t equate to masculinity. No, no,
Miss Price certainly isn’t the one to let femininity take the back
seat. She has a flair for cosmetics. She loves cooking as much as
she loves eating, and can hold her competitive figure at the same
time. And she loves shopping.
"I love to shop–shop for everything. Grocery shopping, shoes,
clothes, makeup… Oh, and I also like to get my nails done."
Her confidence and security ring inside and out. Price has a
laid-back, easy going attitude.
With her mother being a vice principal and her father being a
teacher in Hawaii, Price comes from a grounded, religious family.
She says she has strong values as far as morals and going to church
are concerned. She certainly has respect from coaches and parent
supporters alike.
She possesses talent, focus, and the right attitude. And she
doesn’t mind the frequent company of gentlemen by her side, either.
Miss Keiko Price seems to have it all. All, except an Olympic
experience.
"She wants to win and she wants to be the best. She knows
success isn’t going to happen in one day," Coach Gallagher said.
"But she’s willing to work hard and she’s on her way."
XXXXXXXXX/Daily Bruin
Keiko Price