By STEPHANIE BEECKEN
6 News Reporter
ALCOA (WATE) - A Lenoir City woman who trained in Alcoa has qualified for the U.S. Olympic swim team. Her accomplishment is inspiring other young swimmers to try and follow in her lane.
Claire Donahue will represent the U.S. in the 100 meter butterfly. From the ages of 10-18, she spent time swimming with the Green Meadow Swim Team in Alcoa.
John Matson coached Donahue for eight years with a swim group called Blast.
"She wanted to make the Olympic team from the time she started swimming as a young child, and you have to have that. If you aren't thinking in that direction, you probably aren't going to get there," Matson said.
There are other young swimmers on the Green Meadow Swim Team, training to accomplish what Donahue has.
"I would love to go to the Olympics and I'm working really hard to get there one day," said nine-year-old Kristina McCune.
McCune swims almost every day, in twice-a-day, hour-and-a-half practices.
Her mother, Jennifer McCune, says her daughter has been swimming for almost eight years. "Her brother was taking lessons, and I couldn't keep her out of the water so I let her get in and she learned to swim when she was two years old," she said.
McCune's interest in becoming an Olympic athlete started after watching the last summer Olympics. "I saw Michael Phelps and thought I could be there one day, too," she said.
Her favorite stoke is the butterfly. She's already received several medals. "I got third in my last meet, and I came in first in the rest of my events," she said.
McCune will be tuned into this year's Olympic games, and she'll be rooting for Claire Donahue.
Her mother says if she wants to pursue the Olympic dream, she'll support her.
"I would love to go to the Olympics and I'm working really hard to get there one day," said nine-year-old Kristina McCune.
Her favorite stoke is the butterfly.
