By Emma Gresser, Swimming World Intern
CINCINNATI – For the past three years, Helena Pikhartova has attended The University of Cincinnati as the only member of her family not living in the Czech Republic 4,560 miles away. In May, her younger sister, Monika, committed to Cincinnati and became a Bearcat officially this August. Now, Helena and Monika Pikhartova are under the same roof like they were three years ago, but in a different country. Was the transition to the United States easier for Monika with her big sister there?
“Yes!” Monika replied immediately. “A lot. She helps me with everything from my homework to telling me what to swim if I do not understand the coaches.”
UC head coach Mandy DiSalle also agrees having an older sister is comforting.
“I think for any international student-athlete, the adjustment coming over to America is very challenging” she said. “For Monika, having her older sister here brings an immediate comfort level for her, having that family member here who already knows the ropes, knows where to go, who to talk to, what to do. Having someone that has been through the program for a few years I think has helped Monika really adjust, not only quickly, but adjust well.”
This situation has brought the sisters closer together in just the five months they have been together in the States. Monika explains how the switch has quickly changed after the start of the semester: “In the beginning, it was too much and really crowded. Now I am so happy. It’s awesome.”
Helena agreed with her sister that they are “definitely closer since the past three years that I have been here.” Despite being away from their parents, Cincinnati feels a little more like home because the sisters have each other.
A SISTERLY BOND
The Pikhartova sisters have created a bond as they have grown. After Helena started having back problems while competing in track and field, she made the switch to swimming at age 11. Monika went along for the ride.
“I was 9 when I started swimming,” Monika said. “I was forced (to swim) because my mother told me that it was because she didn’t want to go to two different clubs for us in the evening.”
This sounds a lot like the typical swimming family. In the pool, both girls specialize in the breaststroke events. They trained together back home for the same club and sometimes in the same lane. Helena explains that she and her younger sister “always swam breaststroke because we were good at it.” Both have been successful and continued to compete in those events through college.
Helena represented the Czech Republic at 2010 European Championships. She currently owns the UC school record in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.05) and is the second fastest all–time in the 200 breaststroke (2:12.55).
The sibling rivalry doesn’t appear to exist between the two.
“I feel like we have to beat someone when we race together,” Monika said. “I am happy if she beats someone else. It’s not like I have to beat her.”
During most breaststroke practices, the girls still train in the same lane. “They definitely support each other,” DiSalle said. “I think there is going to be a little more rivalry, especially as we get into the meet this weekend (RedHawk Invitational) and Monika gets a chance to rest. When it does come to the conclusion of the season, I’m sure there’s a little part of her that wants to show her big sister up.”
Helena also agrees that they share an exclusive relationship when they train. “We emphasize more that we are sisters in the pool rather than teammates. I tell her things I wouldn’t tell other people, some mean things like ‘don’t pull on the lane line!’ but I also encourage her when it gets tough.”
Out of the pool, both girls are majoring in physics. Helena plans to continue her education in physics upon graduation this spring. “I decided to start with physics and I really like the physics department here,” explains Helena. She advised Monika to study the same subject.
Monika agrees: “I really like physics and having my older sister help me with my homework is great.”
FINISHING THE 2014-2015 SEASON
Monika mentions her goal this season is to simply “swim fast.” Helena is quick to come back with “Monika’s goal is to beat me” as Monika nods her head. As for next season, Monika will have to venture through the Cincinnati program without her sister there every day.
“I’ve liked having Monika her my senior year,” Helena says. “It’s special.”
For the average foreign swimmer, it’s a typical year of being away from family and home. For the Pikhartova sisters, they have a little bit of home with each other.