INDIANAPOLIS – An 18-year-old Spokane swimmer has his eyes set on the prize as he competes at the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis this week, vying for a spot on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team.
18-year-old Michael Hochwalt, a Spokane native, is quite literally living his dream. He just graduated from Mount Spokane High School and being part of the Spokane Waves Aquatic Team, he is representing the Lilac City and Spokane County at the 2024 Olympic Trials.
“It’s been my goal to go to the Olympic Team, well, since I started swimming,” Michael Hochwalt, 2024 Olympic Trials athlete said.
On the horizon is the ultimate dream come true. Hochwalt is swimming his way through the 2024 Olympic Trials, and hopefully all the way to the pool in Paris. Alongside his coach, family, and thousands upon thousands of fans, Hochwalt has been in Indianapolis for about five days competing in multiple heats of events.
“In my races so far I’ve done pretty solid, but each day has gotten a little bit better,” he said. “I think I’m just getting used to the venue, used to the energy, used the huge thousands of thousands of people crowd.”
Every four years the trials come around, and this year marks a chance for incredible athletes to make it to Paris. As of Monday, Hochwalt has three events left, and he said these races are his best; to earn a spot on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team, he must finish first or second in the finals of one event. And, having already placed second in a heat, things are looking promising.
“I’ll know as soon as I touch that wall whether I’ve made it or not,” the young swimmer said. “I’ve been really nervous constantly, not just at this meet but the past couple weeks leading up to the meet.”
The nerves are there, but the dedication and the passion running through this young athlete, have taken him far already. And his coach, Sean Muncie, his family, and the fans cheering him on from home, have his back.
“He’s definitely one of the top swimmers in 18 and under, so that’s nice,” Sean Muncie, Hochwalt’s head coach said.
“Even being here is in itself is absolutely spectacular,” Hochwalt said.
Growing up in the water, watching the games from a young age, this is truly a dream opportunity for Hochwalt – a Spokane kid to the core.
“Growing up watching Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, I always wanted to be like them and to have a goal that’s been here for over a decade of my life, and to see that possibly come to fruition, would mean the world to me,” he said.
Within the next few days, Hochwalt will know if he’ll be part of the final team; but regardless, even making it to the Olympic Trials, especially at 18 years old, is a success within itself. “It’s a privilege to be here,” Hochwalt said.
