My Signature: Emma Barksdale's Steady Growth Leads to SEC Title

South Carolina senior Emma Barksdale won her first-career conference title at the SEC Championships on February 22 in Athens, Ga., finishing atop the women’s 400 IM with a school-record time of 4:01.52.  Barksdale becomes just the second female swimmer in program history to win an individual SEC tile, and she recounts her achievement in the latest My Signature installment.

I was a little nervous because I wanted to win for my team. Our team was in such a tight team battle for points. (Assistant coach) Kevin (Swander) saw me right before I was going into the ready room. He told me to forget about the other girls and the medals. He told me to go win the race I’ve trained all year for, and he said I was going to have my best race, so I should just focus on myself. Control what you can control.

SECs are what we train for all year. All this hard work we put in definitely pays off at SECs. To compete with the people that each team brings, and to see how they all cheer for each other and how intense it is, it is definitely an interesting and exciting atmosphere.

The 400 IM is 100 of each stroke; 100 fly, 100 back, 100 breaststroke, 100 free. Breaststroke is definitely my strongest stroke. Over the years, Kevin has worked with me to improve a lot of little things in each stroke that will make them flow better. It does help me to swim in other events because I can train for each stroke.

What I love about the event is that I don’t have to count the laps. I like how it plays out. Every swimmer has their own strengths and weaknesses. It’s four minutes, but it goes by so fast. It’s so exciting.

During the race, I wasn’t trying to look at anyone else. I was trying to focus on myself and not see where the other girls were swimming compared to where I was. I definitely had an idea where some girls were around me, but it was hard to tell. Looking around adds to your time. I figured if I was swimming my own race, that’s the best I can do. It doesn’t matter where the others are.

“I looked over and my teammates were all jumping up and down. It was definitely a surreal moment.”
– Emma  Barksdale
 

I remember bits and pieces. I remember making the turn into my last leg of freestyle and thinking, oh my gosh, I could win this.

When I touched the wall, I delayed looking at the scoreboard. My freshman year, I could never have imagined being an SEC champion my senior year.

I saw the place, and then I saw the time. Then I looked over and my teammates were all jumping up and down. It was definitely a surreal moment.

I finished third (at SECs) last year. It definitely motivated me. It was exciting because I wanted a little more. To be able to say I medaled at SECs is really great, but finishing first, it’s definitely a different feeling to be standing at the top of the podium.

Going into NCAAs, it’s a fresh start because I’ll be racing girls from the PAC 12, the Big 10, and the Big 12. It’s definitely a big confidence boost because I know I can compete with these girls. My freshman year, I was so nervous. Each year, I’ve been able to see my confidence grow and to not be nervous when I’m standing behind the blocks and seeing Olympians and girls who have won multiple SEC titles. It’s cool to see how I’ve transformed.

To have Kevin give me my medal was really special because of all the work we’ve done. He took me from this weak little girl, and he’s given me a sense to be where I never thought I would be. He’s a big part of my success at South Carolina. To hear the fight song and see my teammates after the ceremony is really special. Those are the people I train alongside every single day. I wake up every day at 5:30, and they’re the first ones that I see. I spend all my time with them, eat with them, do homework with them, and live with them.

I’m really proud of this program and where it has come, both guys and girls. It’s a family.