Dec. 17, 2002

Columbia, S.C. –
HEATHER SKAGGS:

USCSports.com: What gets you psyched to swim?

HS: Cheering and watching my teammates do well before me will make me want to jump in the water and do my best as well.

USCSports.com: How do you keep from getting bored in the water?

HS: The coaches mix up practice a lot and really do a good job of keeping us on our feet. We swim a lot of different distances.

USCSports.com: What do you do to keep from getting wrinkly?

HS: Lots of lotion. If I take off two weeks and then get back in the water, then I’ll get wrinkly, but after a while your body gets used to it and now it doesn’t happen anymore. Your body becomes immune to it, but you never stop itching from the chlorine.

USCSports.com: What are three words that describe you as a person?

HS: Energetic, dedicated, happy.

USCSports.com: What’s your favorite class at USC?

HS: Definitely dance appreciation. The teacher makes you get up and act like different animals and things and it’s a lot of fun.

USCSports.com: What do you do in your spare time?

HS: We go to the river, go to the movies, hang out, go shopping. I like to shop a lot.

USCSports.com: Do you dream about swimming?

HS: I have before, but when you are here two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, you try not to think about it too much outside of the pool, but if I think about it or talk about it right before I go to bed, then yeah, I dream about it. If I dream that I lost a race, I won’t wake up very happy.

USCSports.com: What’s your favorite thing about swimming at Carolina?

HS: The coaches, definitely, and the team. I also love how, not just with swimming but with all sports, how dedicated the fans are to the sports. But the coaches more than anything. They are amazing.

USCSports.com: If you could have any superpower what would it be?

HS: To know what people are thinking. I think that would be neat. When you look at someone and you know that they are thinking, wouldn’t it be nice to know what they are thinking? Especially the coaches. Sometimes when they aren’t talking to you, you don’t know what they are thinking. If they just give you that look instead of telling you what you are doing wrong, you really want to know what they are thinking at that moment.

USCSports.com: Would you rather visit the future or the past?

HS: Future because if you go to the past everything is already laid out for you, In the future you get to see how you are living your life.

USCSports.com: Do you talk to yourself when you are under water?

HS: Oh yeah, everybody does. If I am in a bad mood, it’s really god to let it all out under water. You can cry under water and nobody knows what’s happening. You can put your goggles on and dive right in and have it all out. Swimming is unique like that. It doesn’t happen very often, but it does happen. The again, if you are having a really good day and someone else is having a bad day and shouting or getting you mad, you can go underwater and laugh at them and they will never know.

USCSports.com: Do you have any message for your family back home?

HS: That I love them very much and I miss them. I wish they were here.