Junior swimmer Jen Beckberger, originally from Ontario, Canada will compete for ASU this season. Beckberger was named a 2007 All-American honorable mention as a member of the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relay teams as well as the 200-yard medley relay.
The women’s swim team continues its fall season with a home matchup against the University of Kansas on Friday.
Q: What was the transition like from growing up in Canada to moving to the U.S.?
A: It was difficult coming here to basically live in summer [weather] year-round. In Canada, we have four seasons and when it’s cold [in Arizona], it’s just like the summer in Canada. But the food, the buildings and the lifestyles were all a change for me as well.
Q: If you could bring something here from Canada that Arizona doesn’t have, what would it be?
A: Definitely snow for a week. It would be so cool to have school off and to go tobogganing all week, or as the Americans call it: sledding.
Q: Is there a difference in how you trained while living in Canada compared to now that you are living in Arizona?
A: It is absolutely different. Every day, I trained every stroke in Canada. But here, I only stick to freestyle. The coaches said they might let me do some backstroke this year which would be nice.
Q: May you please explain your involvement with the Canada’s national team this summer?
A: I was named a first alternate for the Olympic team. Unfortunately, I never got to go to Beijing even though one of the swimmers got hurt. The coach decided to just use one of the swimmers already there.
Q: Do you have any future plans with the national team?
A: I do want to go back to Canada for at least a year, so I can train with my coach there before I go to the 2012 [Olympic] trials. I want to make the team and go to the Olympics in London.
