CCOM Student Post: Paris is great, but you have to get through Indy first
With CCOM Dean, Joe Valenzano, enjoying a well-earned European family vacation we are thrilled to have rising senior Sarah Hohman ‘25 contribute the first student guest post to CCOM Pawprints.
Oui oui! The U.S Olympic Swimming Trials are taking place in Indianapolis this week and the city is embracing its hosting duties—complete with a smaller replica of the Eiffel Tower on Georgia Street. Butler students are playing a role as Professor Bob Shultz gathered a group of student volunteers to help the Indiana Sports Corp produce their latest ground-breaking event.
In honor of the Trials in Indianapolis, I was proud to attend the Economic Club of Indiana’s luncheon with a talented panel discussing the impact of swimming on their lives. I even got to hold a gold medal won by Kaitlin Sandeno at the Athens Games! The panelists consisted of medal-winning Olympians Sandeno (2000; 2004), Cullen Jones (2008; 2012), and Brendan Hansen (2004; 2008; 2012). Nic Askew, the Director of Swimming and Diving and Tennis at Howard University, and a recipient in 2023 of the Indiana Sports Corp Pathfinder Award, rounded out the group, with OneAmerica Financial Vice President Karin Sarratt moderating the event.
The topics varied but the panel was centered around what it takes to be a champion and competitor. The main question of the day was, “Are you a champion or a rainmaker?” By definition, a champion is a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition. A rainmaker is a person whose influence can initiate progress or ensure success. While the panelists debated which of the two they were, the athletes shared stories of success, but most importantly failure—and overcoming it.
This week, many athletes will be left humbled and defeated. A maximum of 52 swimmers can qualify for the U.S. national team, 26 men and 26 women. More than 1000 swimmers are trying to squeeze into these cherished spots. The opportunity only comes every four years, so I can’t imagine the pressure these athletes feel. It certainly has to be more than my eighth-grade volleyball tryouts. No matter how excited we are for these athletes to get to Paris, they have to get through Indianapolis first.
Jones said something during the panel session that stuck out to me.
“I think we are in a society where we are afraid to start.”
Failure is scary, we all know that, but I think never failing is scarier. Learning how to fail is learning to succeed. I relate to this in my journey in sports media and journalism so far. As a woman in sports it can be scary to try something new or be outgoing in a field dominated by men. I just know that never trying at all seems a lot more scary to me. These athletes know the pressure that they are under, but not folding is their biggest accomplishment, even when they may not qualify. It’s important to remember that these athletes are human when they are trying to qualify in Indianapolis this week. When you are watching swimmers compete in Lucas Oil Stadium, don’t just cheer on those in the lead, cheer on those who need the extra boost to finish.
Circling back to the Econ Club luncheon, most of the panel considered themselves rainmakers. At their level of personal success, I think it makes sense that they want to help the entire sport of swimming to progress. I think we should all strive to be rainmakers one day, helping to initiate progress in areas that need improvement. I certainly hope I can someday and maybe even earn my own version of a gold medal.
A special thank you to Butler’s Office of Strategic Engagement (OSE) for providing this opportunity.