UNC swimmers medal at World University Games

It’s not quite time for the 2012 London Olympics, but two North Carolina swimmers earned bronze medals in a meet that might just be the next best thing.

On Aug. 15, UNC sophomore Stephanie Peacock finished third in the 400-meter freestyle at the World University Games in China — recording a personal best time in the event and breaking her own school record.

Three days later, Tyler Harris, a 2011 UNC graduate, finished third in the 400-meter individual medley. Harris, too, broke his own UNC record in the event.

UNC swimming coach Rich DeSelm, who was selected by USA Swimming to be the men’s coach for the games, was delighted to have the opportunity to see his swimmers shine internationally.

“I had a great sense of pride and satisfaction that they were competing on the highest stage they’ve ever competed on and doing well,” DeSelm said. “That speaks a lot to them, who they are, and the work they’ve done to prepare for an event like that.”

The World University Games are held every two years and bring together collegiate athletes from all over the world. In the 2011 games, which were held Aug. 12-23 in Shenzhen, China, athletes from 150 different countries competed in 24 sports.

Peacock, who earned the right to compete in the games with a seventh place finish in summer nationals in August 2010, had competed in other countries before, but never on such a global scale.

“You watch these meets on TV, and you never think that you’re actually going to be there,” Peacock said. “When you get the chance to do it, it’s a completely different feeling than just competing within our own country.”

UNC junior Stephanie Eisenring also competed in the games. But instead of representing the U.S., Eisenring, who moved from Switzerland to Florida in 1993, competed for her home country.
Eisenring competed in the World University games in Serbia in 2009 and began swimming for the Swiss National Team when she was 14 years old.

But despite Eisenring’s travels, adjusting to the new time zone was a challenge for the Tar Heel.

She arrived in China Aug. 9, six days before her first event, so she could acclimate herself to her new environment.

“You go that early so your body can get used to the time zone,” Eisenring said. “The first night I woke up at like three in the morning and I couldn’t go back to sleep … so that was pretty rough, but after a few days you got pretty used to it.”

DeSelm was not allowed to interact with Eisenring per USA swimming rules, but Peacock said she felt having her collegiate coach in China definitely gave her an advantage in competition.

The 2011 World University Games were the first for DeSelm, who is beginning his fifth season as coach of the UNC swimming team. The UNC alum said he was honored to have the opportunity to grow as a coach and represent the University at the international level.

But with UNC’s 2011 season fast approaching, DeSelm said he hopes his swimmers’ success in the World University Games will incite other Tar Heel swimmers to follow in their footsteps.

“I think it gives other people in our program some vicarious, feel-good gratification that some of their peers are on the world stage,” DeSelm said. “Hopefully it gives them the confidence (to think) that ‘Maybe something good like that can happen to me.’”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.