Hall of Honor Q&A: Lara Hooiveld (Women's Swimming & Diving)
11/12/2019 11:31:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving, Features
On Friday (Nov. 15), Lara Hooiveld will become the 12th member of the women's swimming and diving program to be inducted into the University of Michigan Athletics Hall of Honor.
A native of Australia, Hooiveld came to Ann Arbor after representing her country at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul as a 17-year-old. At Michigan, Hooiveld morphed into one of the best swimmers in program history. She is one of only five Michigan women's swimmers to win an individual NCAA title, sweeping the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes in 1993. For her efforts, she was the NCAA Swimmer of the Year, Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year and a Honda Award nominee. Including relays, she was a five-time All-American and four-time All-America honorable mention. At the Big Ten level, Hooiveld won the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes in both 1992 and 1993, and she contributed to four more relay wins.
As part of MGoBlue's Hall of Honor coverage this week, Lara reflects back on her journey to Michigan and what she has been up to in the years since.
Q: Talk about what it means to you to be inducted into the Hall of Honor.
A: I feel incredibly honored to be an inductee. I feel quite humbled that the University of Michigan would recognize my past early-1990s swimming accomplishments in 2019!
Q: And how did you find out?
A: The athletic department unexpectedly reached out to me via e-mail to let me know a few months ago. I was very surprised!
Q: You went to the Olympics before you even came to Michigan. What was that experience like?
A: I turned 17 in July of that year. It was inspirational to compete with athletes from all over the world, as well as witness some amazing athletic feats. I felt honored to represent my country after many years of training and preparation, while at the same time enjoying the camaraderie of fellow teammates.
Q: Was it overwhelming?
A: I did not find it overwhelming; it was more of a feeling of reverential respect for the occasion, whilst at the same time trying to remain very focused on my competition events.
Q: Being from Australia, how did you hear about Michigan, given that there wasn't internet or anything like that back then?
A: I heard about the University of Michigan from reading about it in various swimming magazines at the time.
Q: Did you always want to go to college (in the U.S.)?
A: I probably didn't learn about opportunities to attend college in the USA until I was in high school. Older swim club teammates had accepted athletic scholarships to U.S. colleges after winning medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, so I thought this may be a good option for me as well.
Q: What stood out to you about Michigan?
A: Its great support and facilities for student-athletes, as well as the enthusiasm of fans at college sporting events. And, of course, the tailgate parties in parking lots before college football games. I had never seen this before!
Q: In the end, why did you choose Michigan?
A: I chose Michigan for its great academics, as well as being a top 10 NCAA D-I swimming and diving program.
Q: What was your favorite memory of your time on the team?
A: I always enjoyed competing on relays. Therefore, I'd have to say probably winning the medley relays at Big Ten Championships and making finals at NCAAs.
Q: When was the last time you were in Ann Arbor? And what was going through your head when you walked back into Canham Natatorium?
A: I was just here in September for the Weekend of Champions. I had a great feeling of nostalgia due to some of the great workouts and swim meets. Before that, I hadn't been back since 2006.
Q: We are in another Olympic year now. Several of our swimmers and divers have aspirations to reach that level. What advice would you give them?
A: This is not an easy question to answer because there are so many variables that go into making an Olympic team. Focus and excel at small skills: starts, finishes and turns. At the Olympics, sometimes the fastest swimmer doesn't win a medal, but the one with the best non-swimming skill sets do. Also, gain necessary race practice. Race often and race tired and untapered. Don't focus on your times as much as possible at meets prior to Olympic Trials in order to finesse your race plan under race conditions.
Q: As an alumnus watching this team from half-a-world away, can you talk about the pride you have in the program after the recent run of success they've experienced?
A: The women's swimming and diving program has been one that's had resources to do well at NCAAs. We came quite close in the 1990s when I was there. I think over the next one to three years, the team can be lifted to unprecedented greatness when you have quality student-athletes like Maggie MacNeil on the roster. It will be exciting to witness.
Q: How did being at Michigan prepare you for life after graduation?
A: I think it instilled in me a solid work ethic and the ability to finesse goal-setting.
Q: Talk about what you've been up to since you left Michigan (career, family, etc.).
A: I worked in the New York investment banking industry for several years. In 2003, I became a dual passport holder when I obtained my U.S. citizenship. I moved back to Brisbane, Australia, in 2008 when it was time for my daughter to start school, so I could give her the experience of growing up in Australia (like me).
Q: Lastly, looking back, what did being at Michigan mean to you personally?
A: I feel blessed to have been a student-athlete and graduate of Michigan. Not many college-age athletes in the early 1990s had the opportunity to do this, so I am grateful Michigan Athletics extended their hand to an Aussie and offered me an athletic scholarship.
Players Mentioned
