Swimming is a difficult sport as it is. Throw in some injuries, and being a successful competitive swimmer can be a tall order. West Jordan High School’s Hailey Hernandez is doing big things for the swim team—and she has her sights set on even more as the year goes on. 

Hernandez, a sophomore, started swimming at age 7. She may never have gotten into the sport had her grandparents not paid for and signed her up for swimming lessons. As Hernandez got more comfortable in the pool and improved her stroke and love for the activity, she decided to go to the next level and began swimming competitively on a club team. She also worked with a private coach to hone her skills further. She swam on her club team for six years before joining the West Jordan team. 

However, a few years ago, Hernandez broke her collarbone. The injury required intense rehabilitation and kept her out of action for some time. While some swimmers might decide to stop swimming altogether, Hernandez used the tough break to fuel her desire to heal and get even better in the pool. It didn’t take her long to be back to her old self as a swimmer—and be even better. 

“The injury was a major setback, and I was scared that I was going to be able to swim at a high level again,” Hernandez said. “Although I wasn’t able to swim for a while, I didn’t give up. I never thought about quitting swimming because I knew I didn’t want to throw away all of my hard work. Once I recovered, I worked super hard to get back to where I was before, and during my first meet back after injury I [got personal records] in all of my events. I came back stronger after I hit the bottom; I will never give up.”

A competitive nature and the joy of accomplishing goals keeps Hernandez going. She also loves being with her teammates and watching them improve. 

“I have always loved watching myself improve in the water and learning how just the smallest things can change your whole swim,” she said. “My greatest motivation to help me keep swimming is my competitiveness. If I don’t put in that hard work, I won’t reach my goals. I always strive to strengthen and push myself and my teammates to their goals. My teammates do a great job with keeping up the motivation, and I also try my best to keep them motivated and proud of their own efforts. Seeing my teammates happy and proud helps me to keep on swimming.”

In any sport, competing in a positive environment with supportive coaches and teammates is crucial. Hernandez is grateful that she is in good hands when she hits the pool. 

“I adore my coaches,” she said. “They have helped me strengthen and push myself in my day-to-day swims that greatly improve my times. I love the camaraderie, the competition, seeing my teammates reach their goals and cheering for my teammates. Cheering on for them is my favorite part.”

For the Jaguars, Hernandez swims in multiple events. Her best events are the 100-yard breaststroke and the 500 freestyle. She also enjoys being a part of the relay events. She said her strengths include having a positive attitude, setting a good example, and never giving up. 

“I have always managed to push myself to never stop my grind, and you’ll never see me not at a practice,” she said. “I try to be the best teammate possible, so I’m being positive for them and myself. I’d like to think I also bring my competitiveness and leadership to the team. I help my teammates with problems they have and give the best support. I also love swimming in the relay events because I get to swim with my teammates.”

There is plenty of time left in her career for Hernandez to continue to improve her times and become a more dynamic swimmer. This season she is working on building her strength and improving her technique in practice. Inevitably, there will be disappointments along the way for her and the Jaguars, but Hernandez is determined to not get down on herself or the team. 

She also wants to bounce back when she falls short of a goal. 

“My biggest challenge has been focusing on getting a personal record on every time I race,” she said. “I have come to accept that not every race is going to be my best race. I know in my heart that I will learn valuable lessons during these hard times.”

Hernandez and her teammates haven’t necessarily set a goal on the number of meets they want to win or what place the Jaguars will finish in region or state. Her focus is on getting along with the other swimmers and doing the best she can. 

“The overall goal for the team this season is to become closer as teammates and support each other in all aspects,” she said. “Our goal is to build upon our successes and learn lessons in every win and loss. I, of course, have many goals as an athlete, but my main goal is to have a good race. Whether I [have gotten a personal record] or not, my goal is to give my race my all, to pass my limits and have myself know that I put in my best work.” λ