Junior Kristina Friedrichs started swim at the age of six encouraged by her friends, juniors Jordan Weems and Rachel Renner. She was in between sports at the time and wanted to try something new.

Renner believes Friedrichs is a strong and beautiful swimmer, and is so smooth while she swims that it looks like she makes it look easy and effortless, when in reality she is exerting as much force as she can to swim as fast as she can.

“She is the best swimmer I know,” Renner said.

Friedrichs is now a year round swimmer and swims for the Sequoyah swim team as well as  Chattahoochee Gold swimming with Renner and Weems.

In 2016, she received a team record of 23.99 seconds on the 50 freestyle, an event where the swimmer swims 25 yards in a straight line to the end of the pool and 25 yards back.

Friedrichs believes she has gained more than just skill from swimming.

“I have gotten many amazing, close friends that I can trust with anything who I would not have met had it been for swim,” Friedrichs said. “I know they will always have my back.”

She has also improved her time management from swimming. She has to find an even balance between her school work and her swimming. She has also had to decide what is most important while juggling her priorities during swim.

Due to her busy lifestyle, Friedrichs experiences anxiety and stress, and swimming gives her that break she needs to clear her mind.

“Swimming gives me a mental break and a chance to recharge and regroup, so I can work hard on my school work when I get home,” she said.

Friedrichs has also learned about herself and how she deals with certain situations.

“I have learned more about myself and [swimming] has helped me improve my own personal character,” Friedrichs said.

According to Friedrichs, the most important thing she has learned is how to be there for others. Swimming is a team sport so Friedrichs tries to have everyone’s back. She has created some of her closest friendships through swimming and would not have them if it were not for their favorite sport.

“Swim has just always been there, I just wouldn’t know what to do without it” Friedrichs said.