Fishers swimmers eye Olympic dream - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

When you accomplish something big it is not unusual to hear someone say that is an achievement of "Olympic proportion."

But what if your goal is actually to make it to the Olympics? What do we call it then? Swimmers in Fishers are working hard now to make their Olympic dream come true later.

That dream can start simply enough with a slight ripple.

"Hi. I am Kennedy Fisher and I love swimming," said one swimmer.

The 45 members of the Southeastern Swim Club range from age 8-14 and, for the most part, all can make that claim. The enthusiasm can be contagious, just ask coach Cameron Owen.

"These kids inspired me a lot this summer. I didn't know if I wanted to swim in the Olympic Trials coming out of college, but when I got back here, they were so happy they thought I was the fastest thing ever. I thought that was pretty cool and motivated me to get back into swimming and go to the trials and give my best," Owen said.

So the All-American swimmer from the University of Arizona swam the 100 freestyle at what is commonly referred to as the "Super Bowl of Swimming" - the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. He finished 55th.

"Cam is probably, if you talk to the experts, he is a 2016 force to be reckoned with," said Andy Peterson.

Don't think all the kids back home weren't watching Owen at the trials. Now, 12-year-old Drew Kibler gets the benefit of his coaching.

"It means a lot, because it helps a ton. Because he gives you tips, you know that those tips can carry you all the way to your goal," Kibler said.

Or eight-year-old Kennedy Fisher.

"He makes me feel good, because he is teaching me what I need to know and do, like, on my start," Fisher said.

So the kids inspire the coach and the coach inspires the kids.

"The fact that I even have this opportunity, I think, is pretty cool. It's been the highlight of my summer. I know a lot of people would think going through the trials would be the coolest thing, but definitely the coolest thing is coaching these kids. They are so happy everyday. They make me happy, even if I am in a bad mood, I come to practice and I am happy," Owen said.

As busy as the swim club seems right now, it is hard to believe once the Olympic spirit settles in and the new tryouts begin in August, it's going to be even busier.

"Our tryouts are in August and in an Olympic year, we experience five times the number of kids trying out than we do in a regular year. It's mind boggling. We normally would have 40-60 kids go through tryouts every August. We will see 200-300 kids go through tryouts this August," Peterson said.

All armed with the same goal - making it to the Olympics.

"That is my dream. That is my goal," said Fisher.

"It's always been my dream to swim in the Olympics," Kibler said.

"That would have to be a big commitment of time and money and I am sure, every aspect, but I am going to take some time off and employ some different fitness options and, hopefully, get back into it, because I do love swimming," Owen said.

It's an Olympic dream, that embodies the Olympic spirit, that starts with a ripple.