Athlete of the Week: Sebastian Aguirre

Eleven-year-old Sebastian Aguirre recently was named the 2012 Long Course Swimmer of the Year for the 11-12 age group.

The Johnson Middle School sixth-grader, who swims competitively for the Lakewood Ranch YMCA Wave Runners, is ranked in the top 20 in the nation in four events, including the 100 butterfly (13th), 400 freestyle (13th), 200 butterfly (14th) and 100 freestyle (17th).

Sebastian is now in the middle of the 2013 Long Course season and also will be competing in the Columbia Junior National Championships June 26, in Medellin, Colombia. Sebastian holds four Colombian national records.

"I think I’m one of the top dogs in that age group. There are a few people right beneath me who are trying to catch me. I don’t feel any pressure, though. I just go out and do my best.

I’m not good at flip turns in the freestyle and butterfly, so I like long course better than short course. Because I’m so short compared to everyone else, my legs aren’t long enough to get out there and touch the wall.

When I’m in the pool, I feel like I’m gliding across the water, but it’s still a long distance to the wall.

I’ve never liked to be sweaty. Swimming cools me off. I love it. I just feel at home. All of my friends are here, and we practice really hard.

I never really swam before, but everyone said I had a good kick. I joined the swim team after my mom joined the YMCA, and it just escalated from there. I want to thank Barbara Wear and the Zumba family for helping me along the way.

I look up to Michael Andrew. He’s a 13-year-old who made the Olympic Trials. He made a 49 for the 100 fly, which is about 30 seconds faster than me, and there’s only a couple of age groups’ difference."