Kim van Selm

Whether she's swimming 100 meters or 1,650, South African freestyler Kim van Selm goes the distance for her team.

Story by Joseph Hughes
Photography by Gary Kirksey

Kim van Selm took a roundabout route to Ohio University.

She was taking classes at the University of Natal in her hometown of Durban, South Africa, while preparing for the 1997 World University Games in Sicily. She wanted to accomplish two things during her trip to the Mediterranean: help her team land a medal and select a school in the States. As it turns out, South Africa took the team bronze and van Selm -- on the advice of several U.S. coaches at the Games -- took Ohio University.

Despite interest from Arizona State, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina, Texas and others, van Selm liked what she heard about Ohio head coach Greg Werner, his winning tradition and his success with international swimmers.

Now a 23-year-old senior in her final season with the Bobcats, van Selm has helped reinforce the reputation. In three years, the freesyler has won seven individual Mid-American Conference titles and had a hand in 10 MAC relay titles. She was named MAC Swimmer of the Year the past two seasons and twice was selected to compete in the NCAA championships. This season's goal: Be a part of the Bobcats' third MAC championship team in four years.

On the Blocks

Van Selm, whose mother was a swim coach, doesn't remember when the pool wasn't a comfortable place. She's been swimming competitively since age 5. She even takes 5:30 a.m. workouts in stride. But when she arrived in southeastern Ohio in the fall of 1998 as a 19-year-old freshman, she was in unfamiliar waters.

"I wasn't quite sure what to expect," she recalls. "Back home, when I thought about America, I thought Ôbig' and Ôbold.' I was pleasantly surprised when I got here."

What she found, she says, was a small community, a beautiful campus and a close-knit, team-oriented group of women who wanted to share their time and college experiences. When homesickness set in, her Ohio family was happy to help. Friends took her to their homes for the holidays, teamed up for study sessions and introduced her to college students' catch phrases.

But not all the advice took, jokes Rachel Banks, who lives with van Selm, teammate Emily Frasco and nonswimmer Jennifer Ramsey. "She always says, 'Cool beans, dude!' Has anyone said that since 1984?"

Diving In

While she might have had trouble remembering the lingo, no one had trouble remembering her. Van Selm's name soon was familiar across the campus and the conference. She set school and MAC records in the freestyle as a freshman and a year later led the Bobcats to the first of two consecutive conference championships. And in 2000, while competing in her country's Olympic trials, she broke three African continent records. (Because South African swimmers must match top world times to meet their Olympic team's stringent eligibility criteria, van Selm didn't make it to Sydney.)

"She has been a joy to work with and also to be associated with," says Werner, who appreciates van Selm's positive influence both as a team leader and as an individual. "She always does what is asked of her, but she also inspires the best in others."

That's a popular view, notes Banks. "When Kim has a goal, she goes all out and gives it 100 percent," her teammate says. "She's very laid back and doesn't worry about the little things, and that helps her the most. She is very disciplined."

Making the Turn

Van Selm's achievements aren't confined to the water, either. Just ask her professors.

The physical therapy major, who carries a 3.2 grade-point average, missed two weeks of Assistant Professor of Chemistry David Young's class during the Olympic trials. But she nailed Young's first exam -- and his admiration -- when she returned.

"She's very dedicated to her swimming and to her studies," Young says. "I'm very impressed with her."

So, too, is Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Scott Moody, who helped van Selm choose a graduate school in South Africa. She plans to pursue a master's degree in physical therapy there after she graduates from Ohio University in June.

"Our biology courses are very intensive," Moody says. "Students who can juggle a busy schedule of varsity sports and still earn A's and B's, as Kim has, are to be commended."

Down the Stretch

If talent in the pool and commitment in the classroom were the only measures of van Selm's success, hers wouldn't be such an endearing story. What's special, say friends and coaches, is her effusive personality.

"She is the most gentle, the most warm-spirited and the most compassionate person I know," Frasco says. "As fast and as amazing a swimmer as Kim is, she is equally beautiful as a person."

Gathered in their homey University Commons apartment, the roommates (having already chased van Selm from the room) run down a list of the traits they admire most: She's there when you need her. She's a good listener. She's happy to share advice. She's easygoing.

"She's like a mom to us," Banks and Frasco chime in unison, laughing.

Winning the Race

Despite her swimming successes and her love for the sport, van Selm doubts the 2004 Olympic Games are in her future. She's ready to move on.

"I've done the traveling thing, but I think it is time for me to head on home," she says. "I think I'm going to retire my suit."

Meanwhile, she looks back on a cherished piece of advice and figures she's followed it pretty well.

"My sister-in-law told me before I came here to enjoy the challenge," van Selm says. "Coming to the United States, I had to make the most of the situation. I think what has gotten me to where I am is being able to enjoy the challenge. It makes me proud to stand on the block wearing an Ohio University suit and cap."

Five years and some 5,000 miles from Sicily, a lot of people are proud van Selm chose Ohio.

Joseph Hughes, BSJ '01, is a graduate student writer for Communications and Marketing.
Gary Kirksey is an associate professor of visual communication.