Each weekday, ESPN RISE brings you five vital stats from athletes across the country.
Jaime Malandra knows what it takes to be a great swimmer. The Parkland (Allentown, Pa.) senior, who didn't start swimming competitively until the age of 12, won Class AAA state titles and set state records in the 500 free (4:48.43) and 200 free (1:48.18) -- she also won those events as a sophomore. Malandra narrowly missed out on the Olympic trials this year, and she shares her five keys to being a great swimmer.
1. Sacrifice is the name of the game
"You do have to sacrifice a lot. I've missed birthday parties, my friend's play, family functions. I wish I could have gone to those things, but you have to practice a lot."
2. Early mornings
"Our morning workouts begin at 5:45 a.m. I don't mind morning workouts. I like starting my day off with a workout. It's the afternoon that gets me."
3. Sleepy days
"After morning practice, our eyes are so glazed over. We were joking that we can't volunteer in class because we don't want to lift our arms up. By second period in class, I'm usually falling asleep."
4. Motivation comes in all forms
"My team is the most important thing to me in swimming. They keep me motivated and they keep me sane. People will randomly come in with food or random posters or good luck stuffed animals. It's little things, but they add up and it shows they really do care."
5. Don't get down
"At my first swimming practice, my swim coach told me to get out of the water. I couldn't breathe. I had no cap and no goggles. It was probably painful to watch. I stopped swimming and started diving. But my friends told me to come back. Now I never want to stop."