Hometown Olympic Hopes On Hold As Great Britain's Loughran Races for SEC Glory
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida swimmer Marco Loughran has already been to the Olympics.
He attended the 2008 Beijing Games as part of a group hosted by the British Olympic Association. With the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain's Olympics organizing committee wanted some of the nation's top Olympic hopefuls to witness the experience first-hand.
Loughran has been on the radar for Britain's National Team since before he was a teenager, spending three years on Australia's Gold Coast attending The Southport School with several other Olympic hopefuls from around the world.
In the two-and-a-half years since the Beijing Games, Loughran has focused on earning his way back to swimming's grandest arena without needing a ticket.
“Ever since the last Olympic trials, that has sort of been my intention,'' Loughran said Tuesday. “Knowing it's in London, it just added an extra bit of a bonus.''
Loughran has spent much of his time since going to the Beijing Games at UF, honing his skills in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events after joining the program in the fall of 2009. He enters this week's Southeastern Conference Swimming Championships at the O'Connell Center as one of the favorites in both events.
He also jumps into the pool this week knowing it's his final time competing at the O-Dome for the Gators. A redshirt sophomore, Loughran recently learned his college eligibility expires after this season. He does plan to remain in school and train with some of UF's other 2012 Olympic hopefuls such as former Gator Ryan Lochte and current teammate Conor Dwyer.
“I might as well make a name for myself in college swimming and see what I can do,'' Loughran said of his mental approach entering the final stretch of his college career. “I would like to get at least top three in the nation. And after this, my main focus is London 2012.''
The end of Loughran's UF career has a special twist thanks to one of his longtime friends and former classmates at The Southport School, Auburn senior Adam Brown. When the Tigers arrived in town Monday night, Loughran stopped by their hotel to catch up with his friendly rival.
Brown is a freestyle specialist for Auburn, one of the teams expected to challenge the Gators for the SEC team title.
“On paper, it looks like Auburn is favored a little bit on the men's side,'' UF coach Gregg Troy said earlier this week.
Brown is one of the reasons why. He is also one of Britain's top 2012 Olympic hopefuls. While they are competitors, Loughran and Brown hope to be future teammates once again.
The two have known each for about 10 years and lived together for three years in Australia. Loughran chuckles at how their journey has led them here, far from their English backgrounds.
“We both decided to go to a school in America,'' Loughran said. “He decided Auburn and I decided Florida. It's kind of lucky we both decided on schools in the same conference.''
They remain the friendliest of rivals. Loughran said they have talked on the phone about every day for the last month, breaking down the SEC meet in each event. They both hope to win gold in their individual events, but they have taken to the team concept as well, fully understanding how serious rivalries are taken in the SEC.
Still, they enjoy hanging out and sharing stories and talking about what might be in 2012 if they can both fulfill their potential and reach the swimming world's largest stage in their home country.
“We are both kind of like jokesters,'' he said. “In and around the pool we like to mess around. But when we get into racing, it turns serious. It's a whole different level.
“We love to race. We love to win.''
At last year's SEC Championships, Loughran posted the best marks of his career. He finished with a time of 46.08 seconds in the 100 back, and 1:40.72 in the 200 back. He went on to earn three All-American honors at the NCAA Championships by finishing eighth in the 200 back and sixth in the 100 back and 200 medley relay.
Whatever happens for Loughran the next few weeks, his time at UF has made him a better swimmer. Back in England, he would often train for months at a time before a competition. At UF, a week of intense training is followed by a weekend meet.
The extra work has him more prepared than ever to fulfill his goal of earning a medal for Great Britain in 2012.
But he also has goals left at UF.
“I'd love to walk away with two medals and the team with an SEC championship,'' he said.
He would certainly have something to talk with Brown about if that happens.
