Indiana University Athletics
Competitive to the End: Kristen Bradley
2/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 16, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Senior Kristen Bradley, along with the No. 16 Indiana women's swimming and diving team, is in the midst of the 2006 Big Ten Championships in Columbus, Ohio throughout this weekend. The Lindsay, Ontario, Canada native recently took time out of her busy schedule to talk to IUHOOSIERS.com about the conference meet and her ultra-competitive personality.
Initially, Bradley put forth her personal goals for the conference championships. Similar to everyone else at the meet, they all want to cut time and post career-low marks during the championship season.
"Going the best times in all my events is my main goal, and racing the swimmers next to me to the end will help me do that," Bradley said. "If I do that, I'd be very happy. I also would really like a gold medal since I don't have one of those yet."
Bradley continued to talk about her desire to become a Big Ten champion. Last season, she came just short of touching first with a runner-up effort in the 400-yard IM at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center in Bloomington.
"I'm very motivated, you always want to raise the bar from the previous years, because that's what it's all about - getting better every year," Bradley said. "To win would be a very good thing, and it would most likely mean I put up a very good time."
Her personal desire to win may be exactly what she needs to get over the hump to win a conference crown. Bradley relates just how competitive she can be at any given time.
"I think my team knows me pretty well, but I've been told that I am very competitive," Bradley said. "It's fun to try to win. I try to make a game out of little things, but I think they all know that it's all for fun. I don't get angry if I lose. Well, I don't stay angry at least. When it comes down to it, being happy is the only thing that matters. A happy swimmer is a fast swimmer and I try to go by that."
Heading down the home stretch of her Hoosier career, Bradley also reflected on memories from the past four years in Bloomington.
"I'll remember the fun, little things that my teammates and I did, not the hard practices, or the sound of the alarm clock," Bradley said. "Although, I think that alarm will haunt me in my dreams for the rest of my life. Consciously, I'll remember all the relationships I built with my coaches and friends and all their crazy different personalities."
While Bradley will conclude her collegiate competition this season, she will not end her swimming career.
"I plan to continue swimming back in Canada for the next two years," Bradley said. "I am going to give the Olympics a shot."
