Hee-Jin Chang '05 Achieves 'Personal Best' in Beijin

Chang set a new national record in the 50-meter freestyle.

August 25, 2008 —Champion swimmer Hee-Jin Chang ’05 is used to winning. And although she didn’t take a medal in Beijing last week, she had plenty to be excited about. In a message to her former coach, Andover’s new Dean of Students Paul Murphy, Chang was clearly thrilled. “I went my best times and broke the national record in the 50 (meter freestyle). It would have been more exciting if my best got me into the top 16 (qualifiers), but I’ll live.” (Smiley face.)

She continued. “The times I went this year would have gotten me in the top 16 in Athens no problem. But wow, people were fast!!!!!” She was referring, of course, to the 2004 Summer Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece. This summer, as she did in the 2000 Olympic Gamers in Sydney, Australia, she competed for her native land, South Korea.

Her events were the 50- and 100-meter freestyle. But she fell just short of qualifying in either event for the final in Beijing this month. Chang, who swims during the academic year for the powerful University of Texas team, said she was just thrilled to be there.

 “Wow. I mean...just WOW! That's all I can say. Sure, the radiant water cube and grand stadiums did their part to amaze me, but what ‘wowed’ me the most were the athletes. The Olympic games is possibly the biggest competition during any athlete's career. Some trained many years to compete in a race that only lasts less than ten seconds. I went into the village expecting freaked out athletes. Well, was I wrong! We all had so much fun hanging out with each other despite the fact that we did not even speak the same language. FUN seemed to be the top priority on the athletes' list. Adrenaline was pumping and butterflies seemed tobounce in my stomach like crazy, but that in itself was so much fun and exciting! I feel and learned that athletes can perform the best when they are having fun. I couldn't wait to get on those blocks and race with all those fast swimmers!”

“I couldn't wait to get on those blocks and race with all those fast swimmers! After the race, I was just excited that I went my best times by a lot! I put in a lot of effort into preparing for the games, and I am just ecstatic that it paid off.”

Asked to comment on the widely discussed role the new full-body swimsuits might have played in the faster times, Chang said, “The suit technology has improved greatly over the years. Yes. I recommend the lzr racer or any suit similar to it to every swimmer out there competing. It literally helps your body float in the water.”

Murphy, her Andover coach, who continues to coach the girls swim team as he takes on his new duties, was obviously pleased for his former star, “All of Hee-Jin’s teammates and coaches are so proud of her! She is a hard worker in and out of the pool, and it was great to see her make the South Korean team and to set a new record in the 50. We all felt like we were with her there in Beijing!