Norman North Senior Hopes To Join Olympic Talent Pool

Aiden Hayes had one of the best high school swimming careers in history, but there was a time when he was far from perfect in the pool.

"I was a really, really bad swimmer my first two years. I did not look promising at all talent-wise," said Hayes, a Norman North senior.

But through plenty of hard work, talent and coaching, Aiden not only kept his head above water but ahead of the competition.

He ended his high school career setting national high school records in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly at the state meet at Jenks in February.

"The two races were just thirteen minutes apart, so I kind of had to move from one right to the other, celebrate for 60 seconds and then spend the other twelve minutes resting and getting ready for my next race," said Aiden.

"Fastest high school swimmer ever. That's a big title," said Kent Nicholson, Aiden's high school coach.

Now that Aiden has conquered high school, he has his sights set on the world. He will be competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials next month in Omaha.

"You can get star struck, the main thing to remember is you're at the meet with these guys for a reason, you belong with these people," said Hayes.

"It's a rarity in Oklahoma," Nicholson said. "There hasn't been too many swimmers high school-age that have made it to trials at all. And there've been even fewer that have made it into the finals at trials."

Aiden will continue his swimming career at North Carolina State in the fall.

He hopes to be heading to Raleigh, coming off a trip to Tokyo.

"Being able to already accomplish my dream of making an Olympic team at such a young age would be beyond imagination," said Aiden.