Look! It’s a fish! It’s a torpedo! No, it’s actually Shyam Patel breaking LHS’s 100 backstroke record at state.
Patel is a senior this year and has been swimming for LHS since freshman year (look in the yearbook). While he’s always been at the front of the race, it wasn’t until his junior year that he broke the record in the 100 backstroke, his time being 50 seconds.
“My favorite event is probably the 100 backstroke,” said Patel.
This skill doesn’t just come overnight, Patel has a swimming schedule he sticks to in order to keep his swimming top-notch.
“Right now I currently do high school and club. I swim every day except for Sundays,” Patel said.
Swimming was not Shyam’s first sport, however.
“I started out playing soccer with my friend who swam, and so just to get more cardio in, my friend’s parents recommended swim. I tried it out recreationally and I loved it and started getting more serious about it so I decided to join a club team.”
Although his future is not set in stone, Patel would like to keep swimming.
“I would like to swim in college, either walk on to the ASU collegiate team or swim club, I haven’t decided yet.”
Make sure to check out Patel’s 100 backstroke time on the school record board and maybe stop by a boys’ swim meet.
