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MOTIVATIONAL MONDAYS // KIRA CRAGE

Kira Crage

Instagram: @kiracrage

   Wetsuit

Before I started swimming about 3 years ago, I’d always loved the water. I even lived on a Catamaran with my family for almost a year when we sailed across the Pacific Ocean, starting in the Marquesas Islands and ending in New Zealand. Along the way we stopped to surf and dive at some beautiful locations including Fiji, Samoa, Bora Bora, and Tahiti. We came back to the US, where we now live in New Smyrna Beach (NSB), which is recognized as one of the best surf towns in the country by Surfer Magazine. Naturally, surfing contests became a part of my regular life but eventually swimming took over when I started competing in 2012.

I now go to NSB Middle and I’m in the 8th grade, but I swim with my club, Daytona Beach Swimming (DBS), senior team (I moved up a year early). The training is rough but it paid off recently when I was ranked 1st for 13 year old girls in the nation for the 50 yard freestyle; just another step closer to my goals of making the Olympic Trials in 2016, and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.  Even though swimming takes up much of my time, I still love to go diving, snorkeling, fishing, and lobstering whenever I can.  Now I surf as much as possible, usually dawn patrols with my dad early in the morning before school when I don’t have morning practice, with an occasional contest here or there. When I’m not swimming or surfing, I enjoy hanging with my family and friends, or taking photos and painting.
Q: If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would they be?
A: Definitely a camera, preferably waterproof. My surfboard, just in case I find the break somewhere on the island and have it all to myself. My best friend to keep me company. Also, probably to keep me from going crazy. And then I wouldn’t have the perfect break all to myself, but that’s okay.
Q: Who is your favorite athlete?
A: Missy Franklin would have to be my all-time favorite swimmer, just because of how positive and successful she is, but Steph Gilmore is a close second in surfing.
Q: What are 3 things on your bucket list?
A:Spend as much time as I can in Bali, taking pictures, finding some awesome breaks, and just getting to know the culture of the place, go to the Olympics, and if I didn’t go for swimming I’d still want to go just to watch, and buy a super cool sail boat for my parents, so they could sail to wherever they wanted- as long as I could come too!
Q: If you were 60 years old, what would you tell your children?
A: Never give up on something you love, because the toughest times bring the greatest rewards.
Q: What inspires you?
A: Every time I see someone do something awesome, I want to do just that. Anyone that has ever accomplished anything great has been a part of my inspiration.
Q: What is your signature dish in the kitchen?
A: Spaghetti! It’s my all-time favorite food. Ever.
Q: What activities do you do in JOLYN?
A: Every day I go to swim practice in my Jolyn, but I also use them for surfing and pretty much anything else I do that involves water!
Q: What motivates you?
A: I know everything I do and everything I train for is for a reason, and just thinking about what may lie ahead of me gets me going every time.
Q: If you had to be an animal, what would you be and why?
A: I’ve always wanted to fly, but I also love the water so probably a pelican. They’re cool right?
Q: What is your favorite JOLYN style and why?
A: I absolutely love the tie strap scooped onesies, because I can comfortably where them to swim practice, but still feel like I’m in a two piece because of the cross tie back. For surfing I really like the Vent tops and Bali bottoms, but I also really want to try out the Tomcat.
Q: Any last words or testimonial?
A: You can’t do anything great if you don’t have a goal. Even if it’s not a big one, it can get you places.
 

She was also just interviewed in News-Journal (click here) where it was written: Lochte said it’s too early to project what Kira’s swimming specialty will be, but he believes she could eventually succeed as a breaststroker and in the individual medley.

“Right now, Kira would probably the fastest swimmer in a couple of events in our senior group,” Lochte said. “She has a world of talent and a real good feel for the water.”

Crage is currently working on making the cut for the 2014 Speedo Winter Junior National Championships, to be held Dec. 10-13 in Federal Way, Washington. She has competed locally and made one out-of-state trip to Savannah, Georgia, for another meet.

But Crage wants to finally be able to combine her loves of traveling and swimming, as well as to make a name for herself among the best swimmers in the country. - By  

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