Swimmer's Olympic dream within reach

LEBANON, Ohio (WDTN) - An Olympic dream is taking shape for a young Miami Valley swimmer.

Liberty Township's Emily Slabe is only 16 years old, a sophomore at Ursuline Academy but this weekend she will be national competitor, vying for a lane in the world competition.

Slabe has been swimming since she was 8 years old.

"I've always dreamed about it but when I was little I was just like, oh it's fun, and then I kind of like started getting competitive," said Slabe.

Brad Isham, the head swim team coach at Countryside YMCA in Lebanon has been coaching Slabe since she moved south from Springboro. He said her attitude has helped propel her swimming career.

"Very competitive so that as a coach makes that easy. You don't have to pull and drag that out of her. She's got that," said Isham.

"She works so hard. She shows up every practice and not only is there and floats through practices but she puts effort into every single set. It's incredible to see her do what she does," said Brandon Voorhies, Slabe's teammate on the Countryside YMCA's Torpedoes.

Last summer, at the age of 15, Slabe qualified for the Olympic trials in the 200 backstroke. Then this spring, she did it in a second race: the 100 backstroke.

"I was just stunned that someone that young could qualify for the Olympic trials," Voorhies said.

Slabe has been under the public's eye before. She has won high school state championships and has been ranked as one of the best swimmers in the country. But Isham said qualifying for the Olympic Trials is different.

"Immediately after a race the happiest I've seen her. Her reaction was just a huge smile, huge relief," Isham said.

Slabe said she doesn't expect to make it to the Olympic team. She'd have to finish first or second to swim in London, but she'd like to be in the top 20.

"I'm going for experience, so this is the top meet besides the Olympics so it's really exciting to swim with all these Olympians," said Slabe.

The real test will be in the summer of 2016, when she has a shot at the world stage at the age of 20.

"Four years down the road when she's at her prime, it's going to be really exciting," Isham said.

Slabe and her parents leave for the trials in Omaha, Nebraska, Sunday.