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Jan. 13, 2003

Columbia, S.C. –
On Saturday, January 11, the USC swimming team held its final home meet of the season. This was the last home meet of Senior Cory Conway’s career. He, along with fellow senior Kristen Butler, was honored in a pre-meet ceremony by his teammates and coaches. His parents made the trip from St. Louis, Mo., to be with their son on Senior Day. USCSports.com wanted to find out a little more about him, so we sat down for a candid conversation.

USCSports.com: WHAT GETS YOU PSYCHED TO SWIM?

CC: The biggest thing is swimming meets in the SEC, the level of competition that is in the SEC. Knowing that every meet we have in the SEC we are swimming against the fastest people ion the nation.

USCSports.com: IS IT HARD FOR YOU TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME IN THE WATER?

CC: No. I have been doing in since I was 12, so it really isn’t a shock anymore. Christmas training is a little harder because we spend a few more hours in th pool every day, but the normal schedule, when school is in session, isn’t too bad.

USCSports.com: WHAT ARE THREE THINGS THAT WOULD DESCIBE YOU AS A PERSON?

CC: Hard-working, good sense of humor and very sarcastic.

USCSports.com: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH AT CAROLINA?

CC: Baseball because how the fans are so close to the field and everybody is yelling and cheering and you feel like you are a part of the game more than any other sport.

USCSPorts.com: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CLASS AT CAROLINA?

CC: Journalism 364, Graphic Production, when we designed CD covers and things like that.

USCSports.com: IF YOU HAVE ANY SPARE TIME, WHAT DO YOU FILL IT UP WITH?

CC: Golf. I love it.

USCSports.com: DO YOU DREAM ABOUT SWIMMING?

CC: No. When I leave this [the Natatorium] I stop thinking about it. I only think about swimming when I am here. It’s the only way to stay sane. Unless I hang out with the girls on the team; they talk about swimming all the time. Gets kind of annoying.

USCSports.com: WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST MOTIVATOR AS A CHILD?

CC: I just wanted to be the best I could possibly be. I knew that I probably wasn’t going to break world records, but I wanted to work as hard as possible and go as far as my hard work would take me.

USCSports.com: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORTE THING ABOUT SWIMMING HERE?

CC: The team, definitely; everybody on the team. I have made so many good friends here. It’s the best thing that has happened to me here. The people that I have met and the friends that I have made just make it so enjoyable.

USCSports.com: IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

CC: Be able to fly. All the other ones just don’t stack up. If you could fly you could go wherever you wanted whenever you wanted.

USCSports.com: WHAT CELEBRITY WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO GO ON A DATE WITH?

CC: Elizabeth Hurley.

USCSports.com: DO YOU TALK TO YOURSELF UNDER WATER?

CC: No, I sing to myself. Whatever song I heard on the country radio station on the way into practice. I wasn’t into country until I came here from St. Louis.

USCSports.com: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS BACK HOME?

CC: Thanks to my parents for all the support and all my friends that have helped me in my swimming career.