The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Garrett Weber-Gale: Swimming in familiar territory
10.12.2006 | Men's Swimming and Diving
Researchers often say that the best time for a person to learn to swim is in their infancy. Extensive testing has been performed on the potential benefits of learning to swim as babies, with such factors including advanced motor development, social skills, intelligence, muscle control, and earlier demonstration of walking skills.
Add in the potential to become a national championship swimmer.
Just ask senior swimmer Garrett Weber-Gale and he will tell you his swimming career started very early on in life.
"My mom used to take my sister and me swimming everyday as infants," said Weber-Gale. "She would put me in the pool from the side, and apparently I would turn over on my back and float. I love being around the water. I grew up sailing, waterskiing and stuff like that and I love being on the lakes and by the ocean."
Coming to the Forty Acres, Weber-Gale's high school swimming resume was as good as can be. A 10-time high school All-American, he was also a three-time state champion in the 100-yard backstroke and won the state 100 free title in 2003. The accolades kept coming for Weber-Gale as he won conference and team MVPs, 15 All-State selections, Swimmer of the Year recognitions, and earned the Pepsi Distinguished Athlete, Scholar, and Citizenship award. And, even though he only won one state championship in the 100 free, his time was good enough to put him in the high school record books, as Weber-Gale broke an 11-year-old record with a time of 43.49 seconds.
"At that time in your life, you're only physically mature to a certain extent; you only have a certain amount of muscle at 17 or 18. So, it was cool that I was able to set a record at that point in my life."
Weber-Gale's evolution as a swimmer has grown exponentially over the years. He admits that he did not get as early of a start on competitive swimming as others, but he was still surrounded by water for a substantial time of his life.
"My sister and I went to the pool every day with my mom, and we would go to the community pool for fun and swim with my parents," explained Weber-Gale. "I never really did swimming as a sport until high school. It used to be something that I just did during the summer with my friends. I liked the competition a lot in high school so I just kept doing it."
Over the past three years at Texas, his resume has grown as quickly as his physical potential as a swimmer. Weber-Gale was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and has since become a six-time Big 12 Conference Champion and a seven-time All-American. He also has his name in two school records, one NCAA record, and one American record. He helped break a world record that has since been broken and is a two time NCAA champion, with the latest one coming last March in the 100-yard freestyle.
"I think my biggest swimming accomplishment is winning the 100 free at NCAA and being on the 2005 World Championship team," said Weber-Gale. "I think one of my biggest accomplishments in swimming is that I've been able to help a couple of people become better swimmers, which makes me feel like I can do something just as good for others as I have been able to do for myself, in terms of helping them accomplish new goals."
As a favorite to repeat this year in the 100-freestyle, Weber-Gale's goals for his final season are the same goals he has had for a while now.
"I want to get a lot stronger because I realized after winning a national championship, that a lot of the great sprint swimmers are really big and strong guys," Weber-Gale said. "My goal last year was also to get stronger, and I worked hard and had great results, so I hope to keep that up this year."
Though this may be his final season as a Longhorn, Weber-Gale's swimming career is only beginning. After narrowly missing the 2004 Olympic team by .23 seconds, Weber-Gale hopes to not only make the 2008 team, but to continue his success on the world circuit.
"I definitely want to swim after college. My dream is to swim at the Olympics. It is such a long time away you don't have any idea what is going to happen between now and then, but in general, my intent is to continue swimming."
A combination of a great coaching staff and a strong, reputable swimming program first brought Weber-Gale to the Forty Acres after he completed his prolific high school career.
"I felt that Texas was the best combination of athletics and academics. Some schools are only strong in one area, and a lot of programs might only have good sprinters in general, or just great long distance swimmers, but Texas had, all-around, the best swimmers.
"I have plans for staying in Texas, especially Austin. I like being around the college atmosphere, everyone is excited about football, excited about athletics, and becoming graduates. I would love to stay in Texas, and I think I will, unless some job or opportunity really strikes me and I need to move."
While the Texan environment may have influenced Weber-Gale to permanently stay, he still remains a loyal fan to the Green Bay Packers.
"I'm a huge Packers fan and I am extremely happy that quarterback Brett Favre is still playing for the Packers. He is as good as anyone out there." All talent as a swimmer aside, Weber-Gale also has quite the upper-hand in the kitchen.
"I used to really be into cooking and I used to love making cakes. I wanted to open up a restaurant someday, but I've kind of fallen away from that just because I realized that opening a restaurant, or being a chef, takes so much time. You really don't have a life beyond the restaurant, so I've kind of wandered away from that goal."
So, what are his culinary specialties?
"I think the best cake I make is an Oreo Cheesecake. I enjoy making it because I know the end result is going to be good," said Weber-Gale. "As for food, I really like to make a shrimp and sausage jambalaya, and I grill a lot."
Maybe when his swimming career comes to an end many years down the road, Weber-Gale will finally be able to revisit his cooking passion. However, Texas fans and coaches are willing to wait for the cheesecake as Weber-Gale begins his final chapter as a Longhorn and his first chapter as a swimmer.