Senior swimmer dives into future
Senior Chris Lott performs the butterfly stroke at the Southeastern Swimming Championships, which took place in Nashville, TN, Feb. 25-28.
March 5, 2010 • written by Margaret Cross
Filed under Sports
“Going to the Olympics would be a big goal,” senior Chris Lott said. “I have a shot for the 2012 Olympics, but definitely 2016.”
Some may say that aspiring to be an Olympic athlete may be too lofty a goal for a mere high school senior. Nevertheless, Lott has an ethic that compels him to give his all both at and away from the pool.
Lott was born and grew up in Memphis with his three brothers Vincent, Kyle, and David. He has been swimming since childhood at the Scenic Hills Recreation Club, where his family are members.
Growing up, Lott swam over the summer, but hockey took over in the winter months.
“I played with River City Hockey over the winter,” Lott said, naming a major youth hockey league in Memphis.
Nevertheless, swimming remained Lott’s true athletic passion. As soon as he became a freshman, Lott joined the Bartlett High swim team, competing not only in County but also in State championships every year, which is rare. This year he even placed in two State events.
“I got fourth place in the 50 [yard] free[style] and sixth in the 100 [yard] free[style],” Lott said.
Lott was also named to the Scholastic All-American Swim Team, the qualifications for which are strict. Students who apply must have a 3.5 grade point average, be a junior or senior, be a USA Swimming member, and make a good time in an event set by the Junior National Bonus Time Standard. However, Lott did not see making this team as his crowning achievement. He set his goals higher, seeking a win at the Southeastern Swimming Championships.
“State just has swimmers from Tennesseee, but Southeastern has swimmers from all the states in the Southeast,” Lott said.
The competition took place in Nashville Feb. 25-28. Lott placed fourth in the 50-yard freestyle in his age group overall, and his team, the Memphis Tigers, placed third out of all the competing teams in the region. Lott says that these kinds of achievement do not come without diligence.
“I work really hard,” Lott said. “I get up at four in the morning and swim until 6:30, which gives me only half an hour to get to school from the University of Memphis. We have practice nine times a week, including practices after school from 3:30 to 6:30.”
The next challenge is the USA Swimming 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships in Laguna Beach, CA. The event will not take place until the first week of August.
“It gives us a long time to train,” Lott said.
Lott even has a job that relates to swimming which he has held for four years.
“I’m a lifeguard at the Scenic Hills Rec Club,” Lott said. “All my friends I was growing up with were becoming lifeguards, and it looked easy.”
Lott’s interests, however, do not lie merely in athletics. Both Florida State University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have offered him swimming scholarships, which Lott will use to pay for an engineering degree.
“I’ve always liked roller coasters,” Lott said. “I kind of want to work at Disney World and design rides and stuff.”
Lott still remains undecided regarding which college he will attend. However, the two aforementioned schools are his top choices.
“They’re in the top 10 swimming schools in the country,” Lott said. “But if I can, I’d like to go to Florida State. That’s where my brother Vincent goes.”
With the Olympics and an engineering career set as his future goals, Lott looks forward to his graduation from Bartlett. And his go-for-it attitude will remain his inspiration both in his athletic future and his job endeavors.
Congratulations to Chris and his hard work! Nice article too.