At just 16, Liberty Clark already has a long history of competing — and succeeding — at some of the highest levels of competition a swimmer can face.
The fact she manages to keep such a calm and collected demeanor while doing so can probably be traced to that experience — and, her swimming-rich family bloodline doesn’t hurt either.
“All we do is swim,” said Clark, who is in Indianapolis today for the beginning of U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials that’ll run through June 23. “I don’t think a lot when I swim. Push off the wall and dolphin kick.”
Her father, Brian Clark, has been a swim coach for over 30 years and is the head coach of the Durham Dolphins. And her mother, Haley (Cope) Clark, won a silver medal in the 4×100 medley relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She also won eight world championship medals and set a world record in the 50-meter backstroke.
To no one’s surprise, Liberty is now paving her own way.
During the recent Trojan Aquatics Los Angeles Invite, Clark had an entry time of 56.29 seconds in the 100 freestyle, with the Olympic Trials standard sitting at 55.79. But she delivered a time of 54.98 during a split-time final swim-off, securing her spot in the Olympic trials while simultaneously setting a team record for the Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks.
She followed up with a second trials cut in the 50 freestyle with a personal best, 25.50 at the Santa Clara Swim Club George Haines International.
She’ll compete in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium on Tuesday and again on Saturday, June 22.
Long road to Indianapolis
Clark’s journey to the Olympic Trials has been far from inactive. Daily workouts beginning at 5 a.m., and not getting home until 8 p.m. has become routine. She also juggled swimming and volleyball during her just-completed junior year at Chico High School.
“I would go from weights to school, I would come home and grab stuff and I would go to swim practice and then I would go to volleyball,” Liberty said. “It was a lot, it made it hard to be motivated to do school, but it was manageable.”
Her father admired her sacrifices and commitment to the sport all while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.
“I’m very proud of her, especially how much she’s been willing to put in on a consistent basis just to do it,” Brian Clark said.
Her parents have taken different roles in her athletic journey to ensure she had the support and help she needed.
While Haley doesn’t coach her, she has driven her to practices and been to all of her meets. Liberty said her mother has always been “tougher” but that she has motivated and pushed her to practice and work out as much as possible.
“I try to make it a little bit easier,” Haley Clark said. “I know she’s making sacrifices but you know, you try and keep your kids company. You try to make sure they don’t feel alone. You try to make sure that they feel supported.”
On the other hand, her father has coached Liberty since she was 6 years old. One of her favorite things about having a father-coach relationship with him has been being able to receive help and motivation through various ways.
Reading the motivational quotes written on kickboards during their practices is something she always looks forward to. Her favorite one: “Beware of the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever.”
Longtime coaching help
In addition to the support of her family, Liberty Clark has had the help of other coaches, teammates and friends.
Pete Motekaitis, the former head swimming coach at UC Davis, has been a coach and longtime friend to the Clark family. He helped coach the then-Haley Cope while preparing for the 2004 Olympics. More recently, he’s had the opportunity to work with Liberty and witness her progress.
“The future for her, in terms of climbing the world rankings and climbing the rankings in the United States, is, you know, really, really bright,” Motekaitis said.
Motekaitis, now coaching Davis AquaMonsters, said limited access to training facilities in the Chico area has been a challenge for swimmers like Liberty.
However, he said, “Working hard, getting better and dreaming big” is the key to success.
A local challenge
Clark’s parents agreed that a lack of pools in the area has not just been a challenge for Liberty, but for other swimmers as well. For years the Pleasant Valley pool has been shared by the community and several swim teams, putting a pinch on practices and community use.
“It would be really fabulous if we actually had a public pool that the swim teams could use,” Haley Clark said. “We’ve struggled with that and a lack of pools since I was an athlete in this area.
“It is remarkable that she can do what she does with the amount of work that she’s able to put in.”
Looking back at Liberty’s training leading up to the trials, her father said watching her effortlessly swim faster let him know she had “achieved another level.” And for Liberty, the next level will be a different world indeed.
Indiana bound
Beyond the Olympic trials, Clark has announced she will continue her swimming career at Indiana University. Without looking too far ahead, she said competing at the NCAA championships and contributing to her team are a part of her collegiate plan.
Before announcing her commitment to Indiana, she went on seven recruiting trips to school including: University of California Berkeley, Ohio State, Indiana University, Louisiana State University, Alabama State, North Carolina State and University of Louisville.
“Indiana just seemed to be the best fit. I like the coaching staff, and the team is super friendly,” Liberty said. “They also have an outdoor pool, which I like.”
Home to several Olympians, Indiana’s women swimming and diving program sits at No. 8 according to the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America rankings.
To be where she is today, Clark said “there’s no secret” to it.
“It took a lot of work. I raced over and over and over again,” she said. “Even at the meet where I got my first trials cut. I had done that race, that was the fourth time I had swam it in two days. It felt like a lot but maybe if you put your mind to something you can do it.”
