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SPORTS
Olasewere twins thrive off competition Anastasia Thumser ’22 Web Managing Editor
T
he horn goes off for the 200 meter individual medley race.Water splashes at astronomical levels as the swimmers in the middle lanes dive powerfully. After eight grueling laps, they sprint to the finish, neck-and-neck as they strive to touch the wall before the other. When their race is complete, two girls of similar height and appearance hop out of the pool for a congratulatory celebration. Spectators may think they’re seeing double, but twins Annam and Ayaan Olasewere ’25 are different, yet equally talented swimmers. While they are self-professed competitors, Annam and Ayaan are also each other’s biggest role models. “In the events where both of us are close to each other in time, we are always competing to see who had the better time, which motivates us to go faster,” Annam said. With Annam holding two Staples records in the 50 meter and 100 meter freestyle events, and both girls contributing to the school record-breaking freestyle relays, Annam and Ayaan are assets to the Staples’ girls swim team.
Photos by Camille Vynerib ’23
The sisters started swimming ic to the Staples’ girls swim when they were 18 months old, team in practice, dual and but they credit their previous championship meets, but head coach, Chandler Crosby, with coach Mike Anderson is adtheir success in championship amant that they entertain as meets as they became age-group well as inspire their teammates. “Coaching swimmers. Ayaan and “Coach Annam has Chandler been a lot was a of fun. They rare, one have a lot of of a kind energy,” Ancoach. derson said. He was “They push always each other, pushing they like to us to be the very race each other, they best we like to tease could be each other, [...] we and they’re always lishighly intertened to active with him and OLASEWERE RANKINGS Annam all of their took what Olasewere ’25 (LEFT) is seeded first teammates. he said in the state for the 50 and 100 yard to heart,” freestyle. Ayaan Olasewere ’25 (RIGHT) T h e y ’ r e not above A n n a m is seeded 15th in the 50-yard freestyle said. “He and 12th in the 100-yard freestyle. pushing contineach other’s ued to develop our skills, and head under water.” Jessica Qi ’22, captain of eventually we started attending our first championship the girls’ swim team, believes meets, then winning champi- that Annam and Ayaan’s onship meets and then going energy is infectious and into even higher level meets.” spiring to fellow swimmers. Annam and Ayaan apply “They constantly radiate postheir dedication and work eth- itivity both in and out of the
pool, which is awesome to have on the team,” Qi said. “They are two of the most hardworking and funniest people I know, always putting 110% effort into practice and making jokes to brighten up everyone’s moods.” In addition to swimming, Annam and Ayaan are motivated students and musicians. They do find it mildly annoying when others compare them—whether in school or on the pool deck— but they agree that they perform best when they are together. “People often compare us— not maliciously—to see who is better at this or that,” Ayaan said. “But we believe that we each shine at individual things. [...] Point in case, I am an elite breaststroker and freestyler, while Annam shines in freestyle and butterfly. When we work together in relays, we exceed the expectations that are put on us, because we are each swimming what we swim best.” Despite the potential pressure from competing against a twin sister, Annam and Ayaan wouldn’t have it any other way. “There is no feeling like knowing that you will always have someone to inspire and motivate you,” Ayaan said, “Someone that knows exactly what you are going through.”
SWIM PRACTICE Annam Olasewere ’25 train for state opens in late November at the Staples pool.
