It might have been a bit overwhelming when Sarah Paisley Owen arrived at Indianapolis International Airport last summer for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. And her heartbeat may have ramped up a bit when she was warming up in the shadows of gold medalists such as Katie Ledecky and Kate Douglass.
But by the time the competition began, Owen was comfortable — and ready for more.
“I learned so much from that experience,” she said. “And I’m excited to keep growing and do it again in four years.”
Owen, a 16-year-old sophomore at Midtown High School, will step out of the shadows and into the spotlight when she competes at the GHSA Swimming Championships, Feb. 5-8 at Georgia Tech.
Last year she set a record in winning the 50-yard freestyle in 22.25 seconds, then added another record in the 100 freestyle race. (Her record in the 100 freestyle was beaten later in the meet by Westminster’s Katie Christopherson in the first leg of the 400 relay.)
Credit: Photo courtesy of Sarah Paisley Owen
Credit: Photo courtesy of Sarah Paisley Owen
Owen’s record swim in the 100 freestyle (48.94) was 1.7 seconds off her preliminary time and seized — at least temporarily — a record that had belonged to Amanda Weir, a giant in Georgia swimming, since 2004. Weir, who swam at Brookwood High School, SwimAtlanta and the University of Georgia, is a two-time Olympian and four-time medalist who once held the world record in the 100 freestyle.
“Beating her record was definitely very motivating and inspiring,” Owen said. “I like to think that somebody like that, who has been to the Olympics and done all those great things, was once in the position that I am now. Just to think that I’m on the same level as someone like that is pretty cool and it’s motivating to keep going.”
Owen, who competes for the Metro Atlanta Aquatic Club, is on the right track. In December she placed fifth in the 100 freestyle and seventh in the 50 freestyle at the Speedo Junior Nationals Eastern Regional.
“She experienced it. She had a lot of fun at the Olympic Trials and she competed,” said Justin Yuan, who works with Metro Atlanta Aquatic Club’s top swimmers. “She now understands what she’s got to do to get to the next level. That’s another great thing about here. When she’s at these big meets, she’s watching these Olympians and watching their routines, their eating habits — everything. She’s taking mental notes, like ‘This is how I’ve got to prepare myself to be an athlete like this.”
Her determination has been evident from the start. When she was 9, Owen broke her arm and had limited range of motion when the cast was removed. But by the end of that season, she was able to win three events at the state age group meet.
“When I started, I was just trying to get to the other side of the pool as fast as I could,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking about winning and then I got to the wall and I got so excited.”
Credit: Photo courtesy Sarah Paisley Own
Credit: Photo courtesy Sarah Paisley Own
She began to get serious about the time she turned 12. She focused on learning the strokes and proper techniques — the same approach that helped her achieve a black belt at tae kwon do.
“Once I started to get older, I realized, ‘Oh, I could be good at this,’” she said. “And I started to dream a little more and set goals for myself.”
In addition to her internal drive, Yuan said Owen’s mechanics are exemplary.
“She has a tremendous feel for the water and when you watch her stroke, she pulls like she’s a 6-foot-5 swimmer,” Yuan said. “She pulls so much water and her kick is like a Jet Ski motor. It doesn’t stop. Her technique is almost near perfect.”
While some elite level swimmers will limit their competition to their club teams, Owen embraces the high school experience. She will swim two individual events — the most allowed in a high school meet — and a relay.
“I love competing for my high school,” she said. “You’re representing the whole school and that’s such a great feeling.”
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