Indiana University Athletics
An Introduction To...Kate Zubkova
1/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 16, 2008
Swimming World Magazine feature on Kate Zubkova
Sophomore transfer Kate Zubkova had quite a coming out party in her Indiana debut last weekend at the Irish Invitational. The Kharkov, Ukraine native tallied six first-place finishes, including individual victories in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 100 butterfly. Her times in the 100 back and 200 back were pool records and she automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100 back.
No stranger to success, Zubkova represented the Ukraine at the 2004 Olympic Games and has already cemented a spot on the 2008 Ukrainian Olympic Team in the 100 back. The Olympic spirit runs in her blood as her father, Mykhail, was fourth in the 200 individual medley at the 1988 Olympics and her mother, Natalia, swam the 100 back at the 1992 Olympics.
This week, Zubkova sat down with iuhoosiers.com to discuss her first season at Indiana, as well as the transition to living in the United States.
How did you end up at Indiana?
"Coach Mike (Westphal) invited me. He was at the World Championships and liked how I swam and would really like me to be here. Even before that, I was thinking about trying to swim somewhere abroad, not necessarily in the U.S. When it happened, I was happy to say yes."
What are you studying in school?
"My major is sociology. At my other school I was studying tourism, so I am hoping I can look at that as a minor here."
What have you like most about your time here so far at Indiana?
"I like everything because everything is really new for me. I like our team; they are really friendly. And I like college. It is really different from our universities."
Is it hard being so far away from your family?
"Yes, it was a little bit, for maybe a month. But now it is fine. I e-mail my family and friends, I talk to them."
What has been the biggest adjustment for you coming to live and go to school in the United States?
"Surprisingly it hasn't been the language because I knew a little bit of English before and our team is really friendly so they help me. They also help me get used to everything here. It has just been hard being away from my friends and family. Before coming here I had never lived on my own, I had always lived with my parents, so that has been different.
"One big difference is that everybody here has a car. I lived in a pretty big city, so I didn't need to use a car. But here, you need a car to pretty much do anything.
"Having competed all over the world, it has not been as much of an adjustment as you might think. I spent time competing in Canada, and that is very similar to the U.S."
What is your favorite event, and why?
"I like the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. It is not as hard for me as the 200 backstroke and the 100 fly is one of my important distances. It is always fun for me."
How did you get started in swimming?
"My parents were swimmers, so when I was seven or so they asked me if I wanted to start it and I said yes."
How have your parents, being swimmers themselves, influenced your career?
"I remember them giving me advice and being there for me when I had questions. But they gave me a choice to do something else, studying languages and dancing, but I chose swimming."
What are you most excited about looking to the rest of the season?
"I am looking forward to the Big Ten championships and the NCAA's. I am really excited about it and it should be really interesting."
Having already been to one Olympic Games (in 2004), what are you look forward to in this Olympic year?
"I already have my Olympic time in the 100 backstroke and I would like to have one more in the 200 backstroke. I think it is possible for me. I don't think about where I might place in the Olympics. I think the most important thing for me is to have a really good result for myself."
What has been the biggest thrill of you career to date?
"There have been two. One was finishing second at the World University Games. The other was in 2004 winning the European Shortcourse Championship.
Players Mentioned
