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20 Question Tuesday: Dagny Knutson
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Dagny Knutson has taken U.S. women’s swimming scene by storm. The now 17-year-old North Dakota high schooler won three events at U.S. Short Course Championships – including setting the American record in the 400 IM – and then broke three national high school mark, including Janet Evans’ 500 free record. She was voted North Dakota’s top sports story of 2008 by the Associated Press, and in Guam at the 2009 Junior Pac Pacs, set five meet records while winning seven gold medals and bronze. She talks about that and more in this week’s 20 Question Tuesday with special correspondent Bob Schaller.
1.) How did you feel about your performance in Guam?
Dagny: I was very happy about my results in Guam. I was very anxious to start the meet just to see how I would swim. I had been rested since my high school state meet so I was very pleased to know that I could still hold my speed and endurance for such a long time. I swam times that I didn't think I could at my age; I was hoping for those times perhaps in a few years. But again, the trip was a lot of fun and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
2.) Where did the speed come from -- the records -- last year, you seemed to really storm on to the scene?
Dagny: I guess within the last year and a half, I just made up my mind that I would improve and I would get better, no matter what it took. My times just started dropping, and the more they dropped, the more I just kept plugging away and working hard in the pool and out.
3.) Can you please tell us about your home state?
Dagny: North Dakota is a great state. There's a lot of flat land when driving on the highway but I think it's nice to look at. And yes, it is very cold. We're actually going through one of the coldest winters we've ever had in a long time. On the other hand, North Dakota has some of the nicest summers. As a matter of fact, in the summer I swim at the Roosevelt outdoor park pool (50 meters) and the view of the park is quite nice; sometimes ducks and geese like to hang out in the pool (laughs) while I swim.
4.) What's a misperception people have about North Dakota?
Dagny: North Dakota may not be the homeland for producing elite, Olympic athletes, but North Dakotans are some of the friendliest, hardest-working people you could meet.
[Dagny Knutson swims in the finals of the Womens 400 Yard Individual
Medley during the 2008 Short Course National Championships at the
Georgia Tech Aquatics Center on December 5, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)]
5.) What are some colleges you are looking at and what's a requirement a school must have for you to seriously consider it?
Dagny: I've definitely been thinking about college a lot. For now, I'm keeping my options open. I hope to have more decisions made after this summer, depending on how I swim. What do I look for in a college? Well, academics, first of all. I'm looking for someplace that has a strong swimming and dry-land program. Also, I think I'm a swimmer that needs attention. I want to make sure that I'm getting 100 percent of what I need (laughs) to go faster.
6.) What did you get from Olympic Trials last summer?
Dagny: The Trials were a lot of fun. I never thought a swim meet could turn out like Trials did. The pool and facility were beautiful. But I definitely thought I gained a lot of experience on how to deal with pressure. I felt a lot of pressure in Omaha only because I had put in a lot of work and I didn't want to let anyone, or myself, down. It didn't help that thousands of people were watching either. But when I saw veteran swimmers handle themselves so well, no matter the outcome, it let me view the Trials, and swimming in general, differently.
7.) Who was a male swimmer, aside from Michael Phelps, who impressed you at the Olympics?
Dagny: Jason Lezak, of course! That relay was unbelievable. He showed that Americans are tough and that impossible is nothing.
8.) Same question for a female swimmer from the Olympics?
Dagny: Rebecca Soni's 200-meter breaststroke was very impressive. She seemed to be an underdog next to Leisel Jones, but that's what made it so exciting. Once again, impossible is nothing.
9.) I had the absolute pleasure of getting to know your Dad a little -- how big is the family, and how important is their support to you?
Dagny: My family's support is very important to me. Their encouragement helps, especially when I'm extremely tired in the middle of the season. My parents help me a lot. They're going through this process with me and they're doing a great job of trying to make everything go as great as possible. My grandparents, aunt and uncles, and my cousins are always at meets when they're able to come and they couldn't be more proud. I also have two sisters, Jamie and Kelcie, who I'm very close with. They love to watch me swim, too.
10.) What do you study in school that you enjoy, and what might you major in, in college?
Dagny: My favorite class in school right now is my anatomy and physiology class. The human body is very interesting to me. I hope to use that in my career someday, whatever that might be.
11.) What do people around your home city say to you about your amazing swimming accomplishments?
Dagny: People in Minot are very encouraging. A lot of people I run into will congratulate me or wish me good luck. I'm very fortunate to have so many supporters.
12.) How hard is it to go to practice, and come home from practice, on minus-10 or however cold days?
Dagny: The hardest time to go to practice is in the winter. It's always dark. I hardly get to see sunlight because I'm in school when the sun's out and it goes down by the time I'm out (laughs) of practice. Also, the winter is obviously cold. Getting out of bed and going outside in the cold to a cold car, and then a cold pool, is not that fun.
13.) How warm is the pool where you train, and is at a reprieve from the weather, or is it still cold when you get in the water each time?
Dagny: During the winter I practice in our high school pool and it's heated to around 80 degrees, so it’s normal. During the summer, I swim at the 50-meter, outdoor park pool which is usually around 76 degrees, a little colder. The outdoor pool opens in June when it's still kind of cold. One morning I swam when it was 47 degrees outside. I felt bad for Kathy, my coach; she had to stand out there in the rainy, cold weather. Fortunately, I practice in our high school pool during summer evenings. I used to swim at our outdoor pool from 8-10 p.m. in the cold dark (laughs) with a lot of mosquitoes.
[Dagny
Knutson reacts after winning the final of the Womens 400 Yard
Individual Medley during the 2008 Short Course National Championships
at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center on December 5, 2008 in Atlanta,
Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)]
14.) You set records in several events last year -- which was most surprising to you, and which were you perhaps less surprised by?
Dagny: The American Record in the 400 yard Individual Medley (at Short Course Nationals) was most surprising. I never thought, at age 16, I would be an American record holder. I never even thought about the record before the actual race; it never even crossed my mind. I just went out to swim a personal best time. Unfortunately (laughs), I know it will get beat – that is what records are for.
15.) How did you get so diversely talented -- in so many strokes and distances?
Dagny: Ever since I was young I've been swimming a lot of fly, back, and free. Growing up, I had a different "best event" every season. Over time I just worked on my breaststroke because that's where I would get caught in the IM events.
16.) What are you looking at doing at Nationals next year in terms of events?
Dagny: My plan is to focus mainly on Nationals this summer in Indianapolis. My goal is to make the World Championship team. I think that would be so awesome. As of right now I'm looking at the 200 and 400 IM, and the 200 freestyle as my strongest events.
17.) How has all the attention the past few months affected you, and what do you make of all of it?
Dagny: I realize that I've received more recognition lately. I think I'm more confident when going to these bigger meets because I know I can compete with almost anyone. But I'll never be too confident. Things can always turn around just as fast, and not go as planned. Also, I don't act, or think of swimming, any differently. I'm still doing what I've always done and I'm enjoying every part of it.
18.) What a cool name -- Dagny -- where did that come from, and is there a special significance behind it?
Dagny: Dagny is a Norwegian name. My Dad's side of the family is Norwegian. I actually have a Great-Great-Aunt Dagny, and a Great-Aunt Dagny. So I was named after them. It's definitely (laughs) different.
19.) What did the Guam trip do for you, and what was it like with swimmers from other countries knowing who you are and hoping to beat you since they knew how well you were doing?
Dagny: Guam was such a great experience. I learned so much. I think the trip really put me on that next level that I was working towards. The competitors were all so friendly and it was nice making new friends from all over the world.
20.) Where does the improvement come from now that you have reached an elite level -- what do you do to get even faster?
Dagny: Every time I swim I find something that needs work. I think I have a lot of things to improve on. I'm eager to get training full throttle again and I'm looking forward to an exciting 2009!
1.) How did you feel about your performance in Guam?
Dagny: I was very happy about my results in Guam. I was very anxious to start the meet just to see how I would swim. I had been rested since my high school state meet so I was very pleased to know that I could still hold my speed and endurance for such a long time. I swam times that I didn't think I could at my age; I was hoping for those times perhaps in a few years. But again, the trip was a lot of fun and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
2.) Where did the speed come from -- the records -- last year, you seemed to really storm on to the scene?
Dagny: I guess within the last year and a half, I just made up my mind that I would improve and I would get better, no matter what it took. My times just started dropping, and the more they dropped, the more I just kept plugging away and working hard in the pool and out.
3.) Can you please tell us about your home state?
Dagny: North Dakota is a great state. There's a lot of flat land when driving on the highway but I think it's nice to look at. And yes, it is very cold. We're actually going through one of the coldest winters we've ever had in a long time. On the other hand, North Dakota has some of the nicest summers. As a matter of fact, in the summer I swim at the Roosevelt outdoor park pool (50 meters) and the view of the park is quite nice; sometimes ducks and geese like to hang out in the pool (laughs) while I swim.
4.) What's a misperception people have about North Dakota?
Dagny: North Dakota may not be the homeland for producing elite, Olympic athletes, but North Dakotans are some of the friendliest, hardest-working people you could meet.
5.) What are some colleges you are looking at and what's a requirement a school must have for you to seriously consider it?
Dagny: I've definitely been thinking about college a lot. For now, I'm keeping my options open. I hope to have more decisions made after this summer, depending on how I swim. What do I look for in a college? Well, academics, first of all. I'm looking for someplace that has a strong swimming and dry-land program. Also, I think I'm a swimmer that needs attention. I want to make sure that I'm getting 100 percent of what I need (laughs) to go faster.
6.) What did you get from Olympic Trials last summer?
Dagny: The Trials were a lot of fun. I never thought a swim meet could turn out like Trials did. The pool and facility were beautiful. But I definitely thought I gained a lot of experience on how to deal with pressure. I felt a lot of pressure in Omaha only because I had put in a lot of work and I didn't want to let anyone, or myself, down. It didn't help that thousands of people were watching either. But when I saw veteran swimmers handle themselves so well, no matter the outcome, it let me view the Trials, and swimming in general, differently.
7.) Who was a male swimmer, aside from Michael Phelps, who impressed you at the Olympics?
Dagny: Jason Lezak, of course! That relay was unbelievable. He showed that Americans are tough and that impossible is nothing.
8.) Same question for a female swimmer from the Olympics?
Dagny: Rebecca Soni's 200-meter breaststroke was very impressive. She seemed to be an underdog next to Leisel Jones, but that's what made it so exciting. Once again, impossible is nothing.
9.) I had the absolute pleasure of getting to know your Dad a little -- how big is the family, and how important is their support to you?
Dagny: My family's support is very important to me. Their encouragement helps, especially when I'm extremely tired in the middle of the season. My parents help me a lot. They're going through this process with me and they're doing a great job of trying to make everything go as great as possible. My grandparents, aunt and uncles, and my cousins are always at meets when they're able to come and they couldn't be more proud. I also have two sisters, Jamie and Kelcie, who I'm very close with. They love to watch me swim, too.
10.) What do you study in school that you enjoy, and what might you major in, in college?
Dagny: My favorite class in school right now is my anatomy and physiology class. The human body is very interesting to me. I hope to use that in my career someday, whatever that might be.
11.) What do people around your home city say to you about your amazing swimming accomplishments?
Dagny: People in Minot are very encouraging. A lot of people I run into will congratulate me or wish me good luck. I'm very fortunate to have so many supporters.
12.) How hard is it to go to practice, and come home from practice, on minus-10 or however cold days?
Dagny: The hardest time to go to practice is in the winter. It's always dark. I hardly get to see sunlight because I'm in school when the sun's out and it goes down by the time I'm out (laughs) of practice. Also, the winter is obviously cold. Getting out of bed and going outside in the cold to a cold car, and then a cold pool, is not that fun.
13.) How warm is the pool where you train, and is at a reprieve from the weather, or is it still cold when you get in the water each time?
Dagny: During the winter I practice in our high school pool and it's heated to around 80 degrees, so it’s normal. During the summer, I swim at the 50-meter, outdoor park pool which is usually around 76 degrees, a little colder. The outdoor pool opens in June when it's still kind of cold. One morning I swam when it was 47 degrees outside. I felt bad for Kathy, my coach; she had to stand out there in the rainy, cold weather. Fortunately, I practice in our high school pool during summer evenings. I used to swim at our outdoor pool from 8-10 p.m. in the cold dark (laughs) with a lot of mosquitoes.
14.) You set records in several events last year -- which was most surprising to you, and which were you perhaps less surprised by?
Dagny: The American Record in the 400 yard Individual Medley (at Short Course Nationals) was most surprising. I never thought, at age 16, I would be an American record holder. I never even thought about the record before the actual race; it never even crossed my mind. I just went out to swim a personal best time. Unfortunately (laughs), I know it will get beat – that is what records are for.
15.) How did you get so diversely talented -- in so many strokes and distances?
Dagny: Ever since I was young I've been swimming a lot of fly, back, and free. Growing up, I had a different "best event" every season. Over time I just worked on my breaststroke because that's where I would get caught in the IM events.
16.) What are you looking at doing at Nationals next year in terms of events?
Dagny: My plan is to focus mainly on Nationals this summer in Indianapolis. My goal is to make the World Championship team. I think that would be so awesome. As of right now I'm looking at the 200 and 400 IM, and the 200 freestyle as my strongest events.
17.) How has all the attention the past few months affected you, and what do you make of all of it?
Dagny: I realize that I've received more recognition lately. I think I'm more confident when going to these bigger meets because I know I can compete with almost anyone. But I'll never be too confident. Things can always turn around just as fast, and not go as planned. Also, I don't act, or think of swimming, any differently. I'm still doing what I've always done and I'm enjoying every part of it.
18.) What a cool name -- Dagny -- where did that come from, and is there a special significance behind it?
Dagny: Dagny is a Norwegian name. My Dad's side of the family is Norwegian. I actually have a Great-Great-Aunt Dagny, and a Great-Aunt Dagny. So I was named after them. It's definitely (laughs) different.
19.) What did the Guam trip do for you, and what was it like with swimmers from other countries knowing who you are and hoping to beat you since they knew how well you were doing?
Dagny: Guam was such a great experience. I learned so much. I think the trip really put me on that next level that I was working towards. The competitors were all so friendly and it was nice making new friends from all over the world.
20.) Where does the improvement come from now that you have reached an elite level -- what do you do to get even faster?
Dagny: Every time I swim I find something that needs work. I think I have a lot of things to improve on. I'm eager to get training full throttle again and I'm looking forward to an exciting 2009!
