RANDY METCALF/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman swimming sensation Simon Burnett of Great Britain takes a break in the pool to display his Wildcat pride. Burnett won the 2003 NCAA Championship in the 200-yard freestyle despite nursing a shoulder injury, illness, and competing for the British national team a week prior in Europe.

Freshman Simon Burnett wins NCAA's 200-yard freestyle championship

Often freshmen leave home for college with the high hopes and the expectations of parents and family members sitting squarely on their shoulders.

However, freshman swimmer Simon Burnett shoulders much more than expectations of family and friends; he represents the hopes and expectations of an entire nation.

The 19-year-old native of Tetsworth, Oxfordshire, England is one of the rising stars in British swimming. Now he has asserted himself as one of the top swimmers in the collegiate rankings as well, with his 2003 NCAA Championship victory in the 200 yard freestyle.

ÎBleeding red and blue'

As a spring transfer to head coach Frank Busch's team, the first obstacle Burnett was forced to overcome was joining a team midseason and having to deal with the issue of fitting in and feeling comfortable with his teammates and the UA coaching staff.

"I think Simon is now an Arizona Wildcat," said Busch. "It takes a while for that to develop when you come from a country where there is not a lot of emphasis put on anything team-oriented in this sport; it takes a while to learn where you fit in, and Simon now bleeds red and blue."

Burnett agreed it has been a difficult transition, but as he looks back he's glad to be here.

"Obviously it has been difficult coming from Britain to here," he said. "Luckily I have had my roommate (fellow swimmer) Lyndon Ferns going through the same things I have been going through as well. I have had the senior swimmers on the team to look up to and help me out if I have been in any sort of trouble and the coaches have all been great."

Shouldering expectations

Burnett's championship run was almost not to be, as he battled a severe shoulder injury for more than a month that left him questioning his ability and whether or not he should even be at Arizona.

Burnett's training regiment was altered to accommodate his need for rest on the shoulder, at the same time keeping him in shape and allowing him to swim competitively when he felt he could handle the pain. Burnett's daily training was cut in half, to only one dip in the pool a day.

"Being injured for any athlete is such a big downer," said Burnett. "Not being able to train, not being able to do what you want to do is very difficult. Frank (Busch) was so supportive of me; I just knew I couldn't let him down."

The roller coaster ride for Burnett didn't end with a nagging shoulder injury, as he was forced to also fulfill his duties to the British national team during the collegiate season.

The week before the NCAA Championships were to be held in Austin, Texas, Burnett returned home to Great Britain to compete, then met up with the team in Texas and swam in the NCAA Championships.

Battling jet lag and a minor cold, Burnett finally seemed to be cracking under the pressure.

"I was exhausted, I just wanted to get some rest," said Burnett. "To me the most important thing for me before I swim is to feel completely rested."

The training alterations paid off.

A ready and rested Burnett took to the pool on the meet's second day and, to the delight of his teammates and coaches, qualified for the championship event in the 200 yard freestyle in the eighth and final spot.

"When I saw that I had finished fifth in my heat, I felt there was no way I was getting into the championship heat," said Burnett. "But when I got back to the stands, the team was so upbeat, they raised my spirits up, seeing that I had qualified eighth, and I knew that if I could swim a 1:34 second time I could finish first, second, or third in the event."

That evening in the championship event, Burnett swam a flawless race en route to being crowned the 2003 NCAA champion.

"I didn't think I could swim any faster than that, knowing how I felt that morning, but in the back of my mind, I thought if I could go out in a 46 and come back in a 47 (seconds) I could win," said Burnett. "Then after the first 100 yards I knew I was in the lead."

"I thought to myself, ÎI could just blast it here, but I might die.' So I waited another 25 yards and then just pushed it to the end."

Burnett's victory was unquestionably the surprise of the meet, as no one expected the freshman Wildcat to come away with an individual championship.

"To win a national championship is an amazing feat," said Busch. "You have to be very, very good at precisely the right time, and Simon was. He put together a perfect race."

Getting used to the title

"It still hasn't sunk in yet that I am NCAA champion," said Burnett. "It just doesn't sound right next to my name still. I didn't feel great, but the team had such confidence in me, and the confidence I have now generated from the team and the coaches is just phenomenal, and I am forever in debt to them."

"I am tempted to say that Simon's first season here has been nothing short of phenomenal," Busch said. "Simon is certainly on the upward path of his career."

"Simon has a special gift, he enjoys the competition and the adrenaline flow that comes with it," said Busch. "He has the potential to be one of the best swimmers in Arizona history and one of the best swimmers in the world."

Despite the difficult semester he has endured and the expectations thrust upon him, this is one freshman who can definitely shoulder the expectations.