For Ella Menear, it’s been quite a journey. From learning to swim at the DeHart Park pool in Stuart, to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where she will compete in the 2024 Olympic swimming trials, June 15-23, with a chance to go to the Paris Olympics.
Menear, a rising sophomore at the University of Alabama, got her start at the DeHart Park pool.
“When I was super little, my mom always taught lessons, so I kind of grew up around water all the time. She was actually the one who taught me how to swim,” said Menear. “I spent every summer at DeHart, so that’s where I learned to swim.”
It was also at DeHart Park that Menear got her first experience swimming competitively.
“When I was about four or five, I started swimming competitions at DeHart, like summer league, little meets, and that sort of thing. I continued doing that until second or third grade, but once I got old enough, I trained with a team in Martinsville, the Martinsville Marlins.”
She continued with the Marlins until moving to Pennsylvania, where she was a highly decorated swimmer in high school, winning multiple state championships. She also played volleyball for her school from seventh to twelfth grade, but said, “I always knew that swimming was my passion and I wanted to continue swimming in college.”
Alabama Swimmer Ella Menear
Photo by Jeff Hanson
During Menear’s freshman year swimming for Alabama, she made the NCAA championships. “I went best times in both of my events, which are the 100M and 200M backstroke, and I placed top 35 in both events.”
Looking ahead toward the Olympic trials, Menear said, “Honestly, I just kind of want to take in the experience. Not many people get to do that. I’m just excited to be with my team. I’m just excited to be there with my family and my old club teammates and old club coaches.
“I’m just excited for the experience and hopefully go best times, but it is super hard to make the Olympic Team,” said Menear. “I don’t think a lot of people understand that. They only take the top two-to-four on the Olympic Team in each event.”
The location of this year’s Olympic trials is unlike anything the swimmers have seen. They will compete in a temporary pool above what is normally the home field of the Indianapolis Colts. It will be a unique venue for all the swimmers competing in the trials.
“I think it’s going to be super cool,” said Menear. “I can’t imagine a pool being” in the middle of an NFL stadium.
When asked about the opportunities that come from swimming, Menear said, “I’m super blessed. Coming from a small town like Stuart, and learning to swim at DeHart, moving to Pennsylvania, it’s crazy where a sport can take you. I’m just super grateful that my mom decided to put me in this sport.”
In the fall, Menear will continue her studies at Alabama, where she will have a busy schedule of “2 to 4 hours a day in the pool plus dry land training three days a week, on top of schoolwork.”
She is majoring in kinesiology with plans for a career in sports medicine.
For those youngsters swimming at DeHart park these days, Menear has simple advice: “I’d say nothing is impossible. Just keep pursuing your dreams and if you work hard, anything’s possible.”
Maybe even the Olympics.
