Local Swimmer on Cusp of a Dream

The Olympics is every athlete’s dream. An estimated 10,500 athletes will compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 206 countries represented starting on July 26, 2024.

The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials held in Indianapolis in June 2024 had 796 eligible swimmers (354 women and 442 men) competing for the top two spots. At the end of the trials, the U.S. Olympic swimming team included 26 women and 26 men. Caelan Burt, a local swimmer, eagerly watched the Olympic Swimming Trials and said, “It is something that gets me excited.” 

Burt, a recent graduate of Lely High School (ranked fourth in her class), is beyond excited as she prepares for a new journey into a Division 1 swimming experience at the Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas. “I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at Texas Christian University,” Burt said. “I would like to thank my family, friends, and coaches for all of the support along the way. GO FROGS!!”

Caelan Burt was born on Marco Island and comes from a swimming family, following in her sister Maddy’s footsteps. She started swimming when she was just six years old. She used to walk after school from Tommie Barfield Elementary School to the YMCA for swim practice, a routine that continued through her Lely High School years.

Her younger brother Eamon is also a swimmer and is coached by YMCA swim coach Kamal Farhat. Burt loves swimming but took eight months off when she was in the seventh grade. During that time off, she took up ballet but returned to swimming as she knew it was her sport.

Coach Farhat has been Burt’s only swim coach and is preparing her for college. “Coach Farhat knows me really well and knows what I need to do during swim practice to improve my stroke,” said Burt. She also incorporates training typically done in the weight room. To reduce the risk of injuries, competitive swimmers usually do some form of strength and mobility exercises.

Burt confided that she used to favor the butterfly stroke, the same as her sister. But now she is a sprint freestyle swimmer, favoring the 50 and the 100 for competition. “I used to get nervous when I swam the fly,” said Burt, “I would get tired and was afraid I would not be able to finish.” As a swim stroke, the butterfly uses a lot of energy. 

By switching to the sprint freestyle, Burt found success in the November 3, 2023, State Championship, making the podium twice: finishing second in the 50 free (23.66) and third in the 100 free (51.47).

Burt says that swimming is very mental. “I try to clear my mind and try to plan or visualize my race, and what I need to do to swim my best, and before I step on the starting blocks, I take deep breaths and calm myself down,” said Burt about her race preparation. 

Looking back at all the hard work done in local pools, Burt has learned never to give up on herself. “I can do whatever I put my mind to,” she said. The hundreds of practice hours in lessons and the encouragement of her coach taught her that “with hard work and dedication, competition becomes the fun part.”

Looking ahead to swimming at TCU, Burt said that her current freestyle personal best is not super far from an Olympic trial qualifying time and is definitely a goal of hers. She would like to qualify for the NCAA Big 12 competition and will be working hard to make the cut.