By Remedy Rule, Swimming World College Intern
In a living room in Freeport, Bahamas, 11-year-old Joanna Evans watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics with her mom. Evans remembers telling her mom, “Oh, that would be so cool if I could go to the Olympics one day.” Thinking back on it, she says, “It was one of those things where it just seemed cool. It wasn’t like maybe you will go to the Olympics. And it’s interesting to see that childhood dream morph into reality.”
Not only did Evans accomplish her childhood dream of competing in the Olympics, she also holds the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle Bahamian national records and won the 500 freestyle and the mile at the 2016 Big 12 Championship, earning the Newcomer of the Meet award. Aside from her swimming accomplishments, she carries herself with an infectious confidence and an at-ease demeanor, positively impacting those around her.
Q&A with 2016 Rio Olympian Joanna Evans
Photo Courtesy: Brianna Nesbitt
Swimming World: What does it mean to you representing the Bahamas at the Olympics?
Joanna Evans: It’s one of those things that everyone looks forward to when they’re a child. I feel like [the Olympic Games] are almost everyone’s biggest dreams when they’re an athlete. To be able to represent my country like that and make them proud– it’s one of those things that I always looked forward to. I’m just grateful for the opportunity.
SW: When did you realize it was within your reach to qualify?
JE: I started to go to bigger international meets around summer of 2014– Youth Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. And last summer I went to World Championships and Pan Am Games. I would say definitely in 2014 it became more of a realistic goal that I make it in 2016.
Photo Courtesy: Joanna Evans
SW: What was your favorite memory from the whole experience?
JE: Definitely walking out at the opening ceremony. For previous Olympics, I’ve seen Bahamians and we’ve been like “We know him!” or “She lives in Nassau!” We thought it was so cool to see them on TV walking out in the opening ceremonies. [The opening ceremony] was one of those things where you realized it was you competing at the Games.
SW: How would you describe the demeanor of the United States swimming team, considering their dominance in the sport?
JE: It’s very interesting to see when you get to the pool. It’s clear to see the dominant teams. You get there and Australia has a big thing set up, and the Americans have a big thing set up. In the warm up pool it was so cool when somebody would go to their race; they’d all go U-S-A, U-S-A, cheering them on before they went to their event. From what I could see it was a lot of team spirit and support of each other. Even if you are a powerful team, [team spirit] definitely helps.
Photo Courtesy: Michael C Lyn
SW: How was coming home after the whole Olympic experience?
JE: I hadn’t been home in a while. It was just nice to see everyone I knew and familiar places. One day my mom and I walked into a store and all the workers kind of tapped each other and whispered, “Is that Joanna Evans?” When they confirmed that it was me, they ran over and said, “Hey give us a hug, we’re so proud of you!” It’s been pretty cool.
SW: What do you see in your future in and out of the pool?
JE: I have three more years of eligibility (at Texas) so that carries me to 2019. So hopefully if that all goes well, another Olympics. Out of the pool, I am still trying to discover what I’d like to do.