Published: July 03, 2008 01:10 am            

SWIMMING: Gast says making trials an accomplishment in itself for Hesen

Despite Ben Hesen failing to qualify for the Summer Olympics in the 100-meter backstroke on Tuesday in Omaha, Neb., his high school coach says the former Jeffersonville High School standout has nothing to be ashamed of.

Jeff High swim coach Keith Gast pointed out earlier this week that Hesen’s accomplishment of participating in the United States Olympic Trials is something thousands of U.S. swimmers can only dream about.

“He’s successful because he made it to the Olympic trials,” said Gast, who attended Hesen’s 100 back final on Tuesday. “He’s done so much to get here.”

In the 100 back final, Hesen recorded his personal-best time for the third time this week in 53.68 seconds to finish fifth. Hesen had to finish in the top two spots to advance to the Olympics. Aaron Peirsol won the race by snapping his own world record in 52.89 in one of the most competitive 100 back finals in Olympic trials history.

On Monday, Hesen finished third in both the preliminaries (53.88) and the second semifinal (53.87).

“Coming in, he knew he was one of the top eight (100 back swimmers) in the country. He felt he could race with those guys,” Gast said. “He did exactly what he was supposed to do. He swam his personal-best time and put himself in position.”

Gast started coaching Hesen when the Indiana University senior swam for the Jeff-based Pacesetters Aquatics team as a middle schooler.

Gast never made any bold predictions that his young prodigy would be on the brink of making the Olympics one day. But Gast always thought Hesen had the potential to go far in his swimming career.

“I would say we never ruled it out,” Gast said about Hesen competing in the Olympic trials. “When he was 13 or 14, we felt he had the right attitude that he could do something. Every time a challenge presented itself, he took the challenge head on.”

Gast says he does not talk much about Hesen’s accomplishments to his current Jeff High and Pacesetter swimmers. But he stresses to his troops a lot about Hesen’s work ethic and how tough his road to success has been.

“The things I talk about with them are the times when Ben wasn’t successful and how he persevered and kept a positive attitude,” Gast said. “I think he’s a great role model in the community.”

Hesen must wait four years to try to qualify for the Olympics again in the 100 back. Even though 2012 is a long way away, Gast believes Hesen will make another run for that coveted Olympic berth.

“It’s hard to say, but the plan is to go for it in the next four years and try to do it,” Gast said.

        

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