CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – 17-year-old Crozet native Thomas Heilman addressed the media for the first time since his victories in the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly finals at the US Olympic Swimming trials at Lucas Oil stadium in Indianapolis earlier in June.
The press conference was held at the Brooks family YMCA on McIntire Dr. in Charlottesville, where he and the members of his team, Cavalier Aquatics, train regularly. Heilman was one of four CA members who went to the trials in Indianapolis and was the only one who qualified for the Paris games.
The Olympic dream was a “dream forever” for Heilmann but became “more of a goal three years ago…” when, due to a disappointing world championships finish, he missed out on the Tokyo Olympics.
When asked about the mental approach he would take in handling the biggest competition of his career to this point, Thomas said his plan was to treat the races as if they were the “same 8 lanes, and same size pool” as a dual meet against a local squad.
Heilman begins competition alongside Team USA in Paris on the 27th of July.
