Q and A with Nick Brunelli

Nick Brunelli is one of our top sprinters and National team members who will be battling for a spot on the Olympic team this season. He just missed qualifying for the Athens team in 2004, with a 3rd place finish in the 50 Free and after suffering a shoulder injury at 2006 Summer Nationals, and subsequent surgery to repair the damage, things weren't looking so good for 2008. Thank goodness no one told Nick! He had an amazing summer and looks on track for big things this year...


Nick and his fiance, Jennifer Van Assen - Photo courtesy of Nick Brunelli

1. A lot has happened since the last Olympic season, you graduated, you're engaged (congrats!) and you've had a pretty serious shoulder injury to recover from. How is training different for you now than it was 4 years ago? Is it a matter of knowing what to do and just executing the plan or are you still tweaking your training program each season?

Thank you on the engagement! Jennifer and I are now happy to be planning our wedding. The date is now official too! It's June 13th, 2009. We thought after the Olympic year would be best.

As for swimming, training is very different than what it used to be. I am more cautious of what I am doing in the water so my shoulders don't break down as much. I have been on a strict rehab program that will lead right up to Olympic Trials. In my swim training, I have a very good relationship with my coach Mike Chasson and that helps when I think things aren't going well or I think I need something else. It does help a lot to know Mike and I can talk about my game plan anytime. The plan for me right now is to continue the things we know work and to add small things that can compliment those things. You don't want to change anything to much this close to trials.

2. As a professional athlete who also coaches, what do you think you most contribute to the swimmers you coach and the kids you clinic? Do you think your swimmers consider you hard or a pushover? What do you most hope your students take away from their time with you?

I am a constant learner of the sport and very serious about the things I do and teach. I always try to make everything better within my stroke and others I coach and teach. But with that said I do like a comfortable and exciting environment where anyone I teach or coach can question what I think is right or wrong. But if I'm sure I am right, you better do it my way or I am not doing my job. People pay me to teach them what I know best and if I don't know best then I shouldn't be doing it. I love helping swimmers too much to be teaching them the wrong things. I feel like anyone I have coached or taught, they had a very positive experience.

3. You had a great summer, bronze in the 50 and 100 at Nationals and two more bronzes in Japan. Do you feel like you are right where you need to be with your training? How happy are you with your results?

I am exactly where I want to be really. I feel great and nothings holding me back with training. The past season is history to me right now. I took the good with the bad and moved on. I know what I did wrong and now I'm training to correct that so it never happens again. But to look back on last season I am very happy. I was able to pull off a best time in the 50 free (22.01) and go just about my best in my 100 free (49.04). To do that with what I have been through in the last year with shoulder surgery I think anyone would take that!

4. What is the funniest swim slogan or swim t-shirt you've seen lately?

This was the only one I could think of and it's not really funny but I think it's a clever one. This has no reference to me though: There is no "I" in Team, but there is in Swimmer!

Oh my goodness y'all, I'm so sick, so please forgive me for the somewhat briefer than usual introduction and know that it's certainly not due to a lack of admiration for Mr. Brunelli. Frankly, I think most of you are already pretty familiar with Nick as we even have our own nickname for him here at BHO - "The Back". I think it was originally coined by Erin or Jenny at 2005 ASCC? I wasn't at that meet so my memory is vague on the issue (Nyquil isn't helping me here either) but it has lovingly stuck as a term of endearment. One of them needs to remind us how that came about. ;)

And here are some links so you can learn more about Nick: His Sun Devil Profile, USA Swimming Profile, most recent 20 Question Tuesday, and his Swimroom Blog.

ETA: Special request from Sarah...I think this photo adequately demonstrates why that nickname came about.


Photo courtesy of lala