SPRINGFIELD — Home meets for Uvis Kalnins never took place in an Olympic-size swimming pool.
The one at Hammons Student Center is 25 metres long, half the regulation size. Kalnins and the Missouri State staff hold morning practices at Meador Park so he can get work in a pool that meets requirements.
It's not a negative. This is the position he dreamed of when the Latvian swimmer discovered Missouri State. How does a teenager from a small European nation find the Ozarks?
"Internet," he said.
Already an Olympian by the time he stepped foot in Springfield, the 22-year-old will compete in his second games next month in Rio. It's the third time the program has been represented in the Olympics.
"To be able to do what he's done at a national and international level is really motivating for the staff," head coach Dave Collins said. "It makes it easy to get up in the morning."
It was Kalnins' times that first intrigued Collins, not to mention a middle-of-the-pack finish (30 out of 56) in the 100-meter freestyle at the 2012 Olympics in London. His career has not disappointed. He holds the school and Mid-American Conference records in the 200 and 400 individual medley, plus the fastest 100 and 200 freestyle times in Bears history.
He's been an NCAA qualifier and MAC Outstanding Senior of the Year. He's competed against Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, both of whom will represent the United States.
Still, this marks his most thrilling accomplishment.
"I remember watching Michael Phelps win eight medals in Beijing eight years ago," Kalnins said. "I thought to myself that I wanted to be part of the Olympic atmosphere and be among the best swimmers in the world."
In 2012, Kalnins received an invitation to the games. This year, his qualifying times got the job done. He clocked in at 2:00.39 at the FINA World Championships in Russia last year. His race was just .15 seconds longer at the Winter National Championships in Washington in December.
That was against Phelps.
It's even more impressive considering he adopted the 200 individual medley just recently.
"I'm still learning and I think the coaches would agree. I'm glad I tried out to do something new and it's been paying off ever since."
The 200 IM preliminaries and semifinals will be held on Wednesday, August 10. Kalnins will have to wait for the heat sheets to find out if he'll compete against the 18-time U.S. Gold Medalist again, but the prosect alone has him buzzing.
"He's one of the greatst athletes to have ever walked the earth. For me to be able to be a part of his journey has been great. Obviously, I'm not at his level quite yet, but someday I hope to get there."
Latvia, a country of just over 2 million, will be represented by two swimmers: one male and one female. A small fraternity and an unlikely pairing with Springfield, Mo.
With the iconic Olympic rings tattooed on his bicep, Kalnins is ready to lend creedence to both.
"I can show that our swimming program can produce Olympians and help you, my teammates and I, reach their goals."
