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Backstroke/Butterfly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Photo by: Kees-Jan van Overbeeke
Donker Aims to Use WUG Experience to Turn Corner in 2019-20
7/17/2019 9:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
NAPOLI, Italy – This past season, Minnesota swimmer Tom Donker put the finishing touches on a commendable sophomore campaign after earning Honorable Mention All-America honors for the 400 medley relay. At the NCAA Championships, Donker played a pivotal role in propelling the Gophers' 400 medley relay team to a 10th place finish, while also finishing 15th at the Big Ten Championships in the 100 back a month prior.
Still, Donker was not content with a season that saw him achieve five finishes in the program's top-five times list, including setting Minnesota's highest mark in the 100 back (47.10) for 2018-19. As the summer approached, Donker viewed the months ahead as an opportunity to continue to improve in order to propel his swimming to the next level for his junior year.
"I had a good Big Tens and an alright NCAAs, which was nice, and I just wanted to use that momentum to then have a great summer as well," said Donker.
The Zupthen, Netherlands native's first stop would come in the form of Dutch Nationals, in which a solid performance would grant him a chance to compete at the upcoming World University Games (WUG) in Napoli, Italy. Having previously qualified for the event back in April, Donker still needed to swim well in June's Dutch Nationals in order to be guaranteed a spot in the WUG.
"I had already swam the qualifying time, but they do it based on FINA points," said Donker. "They only took eight swimmers, so it was still kind of stressful heading into Dutch Nationals because nine swimmers had swum qualifying times and they were only going to take the fastest eight."
By swimming qualifying times in both the 50 back and the 100 back at the Dutch Nationals, Donker officially punched his ticket to Italy.
"It was just a really great meet for me mentally," said Donker. "Getting the green light to go to the World University Games was just awesome.
"It just showed, me making a big international meet like that, that my swimming is actually making progress. I'm moving forward in my career, making improvements. It was kind of like a weight being lifted off my shoulders, being able to go and represent my country."
From July 3-14, Donker spent a week and a half in Italy competing in the 50 back, 100 back, 200 back and 400 medley relay. Over the WUG's first weekend, Donker set personal bests in both the 50 back and 200 back, with respective times of 25.67 and 2:03.19. Midway through the summer, Donker's goal of building off his sophomore season's positive momentum was becoming a reality.
"The WUG creates a great environment for people to swim really fast times," said Donker. "Just being able to swim here with the world's best university athletes was a great experience."
Nevertheless, Donker was not satisfied with simply setting new personal marks, albeit as impressive as they may have been. His attitude of refusing to be satisfied and continuously pushing for the very best from himself became evident yet again following his outstanding weekend in Italy.
"It was kind of bittersweet, if I'm very honest," Donker said. "Yes, I was really happy that I swam a personal best time in both those races, but at the same time it wasn't quite fast enough to make the semi-finals, which was a big goal of mine."
With countless reasons for optimism and a reinvigorated desire to improve, Donker's focus is now on utilizing his WUG experience as a means to turn a corner in the pool this upcoming season.
"The biggest takeaway right now is just being ready for such a big competition," he said. "I struggle with being too tense and getting too nervous before big races, so just having the experience of being at such a big meet and practicing mind tricks to stay calm and make sure you focus on your race and just control all the things you can control, and then the things you can't control, just let them be."
As Donker looks ahead to a 2019-20 season that kicks off with the Florida Gators at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on Oct. 11, the rising junior is already setting goals to build upon his past several months in the water. Donker competed at the NCAAs as a member of the 400 medley relay team and qualified for a B final in last year's Big Tens, but this season he aims to accomplish that and more.
"For myself, I really want to make NCAAs individually," said Donker. "The past few years, I've gone for the relays, but I really want to take it to the next level and start individually as well."
"That's the big goal for NCAAs. At Big Tens, I just want to score as many points for the team as I can and maybe make an A final. For the team, I say just race fast, try and win all of our dual meets and throw down at the conference meets and Big Tens."
With the WUG in the rearview, Donker now has time to reflect and prepare for the lofty goals that surround his junior season. Even with all the excitement and uncertainty that lies ahead, Donker knows that he has already participated in a moment of a lifetime and extended the boundaries for what he is capable of as a swimmer.
"The experience was great, having another big meet under the belt," he said. "I know what to expect for the next one."
For more information on Minnesota Swimming & Diving, follow the Golden Gophers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching for "Minnesota Swimming & Diving."
Still, Donker was not content with a season that saw him achieve five finishes in the program's top-five times list, including setting Minnesota's highest mark in the 100 back (47.10) for 2018-19. As the summer approached, Donker viewed the months ahead as an opportunity to continue to improve in order to propel his swimming to the next level for his junior year.
"I had a good Big Tens and an alright NCAAs, which was nice, and I just wanted to use that momentum to then have a great summer as well," said Donker.
The Zupthen, Netherlands native's first stop would come in the form of Dutch Nationals, in which a solid performance would grant him a chance to compete at the upcoming World University Games (WUG) in Napoli, Italy. Having previously qualified for the event back in April, Donker still needed to swim well in June's Dutch Nationals in order to be guaranteed a spot in the WUG.
"I had already swam the qualifying time, but they do it based on FINA points," said Donker. "They only took eight swimmers, so it was still kind of stressful heading into Dutch Nationals because nine swimmers had swum qualifying times and they were only going to take the fastest eight."
By swimming qualifying times in both the 50 back and the 100 back at the Dutch Nationals, Donker officially punched his ticket to Italy.
"It was just a really great meet for me mentally," said Donker. "Getting the green light to go to the World University Games was just awesome.
"It just showed, me making a big international meet like that, that my swimming is actually making progress. I'm moving forward in my career, making improvements. It was kind of like a weight being lifted off my shoulders, being able to go and represent my country."
From July 3-14, Donker spent a week and a half in Italy competing in the 50 back, 100 back, 200 back and 400 medley relay. Over the WUG's first weekend, Donker set personal bests in both the 50 back and 200 back, with respective times of 25.67 and 2:03.19. Midway through the summer, Donker's goal of building off his sophomore season's positive momentum was becoming a reality.
"The WUG creates a great environment for people to swim really fast times," said Donker. "Just being able to swim here with the world's best university athletes was a great experience."
Nevertheless, Donker was not satisfied with simply setting new personal marks, albeit as impressive as they may have been. His attitude of refusing to be satisfied and continuously pushing for the very best from himself became evident yet again following his outstanding weekend in Italy.
"It was kind of bittersweet, if I'm very honest," Donker said. "Yes, I was really happy that I swam a personal best time in both those races, but at the same time it wasn't quite fast enough to make the semi-finals, which was a big goal of mine."
With countless reasons for optimism and a reinvigorated desire to improve, Donker's focus is now on utilizing his WUG experience as a means to turn a corner in the pool this upcoming season.
"The biggest takeaway right now is just being ready for such a big competition," he said. "I struggle with being too tense and getting too nervous before big races, so just having the experience of being at such a big meet and practicing mind tricks to stay calm and make sure you focus on your race and just control all the things you can control, and then the things you can't control, just let them be."
As Donker looks ahead to a 2019-20 season that kicks off with the Florida Gators at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on Oct. 11, the rising junior is already setting goals to build upon his past several months in the water. Donker competed at the NCAAs as a member of the 400 medley relay team and qualified for a B final in last year's Big Tens, but this season he aims to accomplish that and more.
"For myself, I really want to make NCAAs individually," said Donker. "The past few years, I've gone for the relays, but I really want to take it to the next level and start individually as well."
"That's the big goal for NCAAs. At Big Tens, I just want to score as many points for the team as I can and maybe make an A final. For the team, I say just race fast, try and win all of our dual meets and throw down at the conference meets and Big Tens."
With the WUG in the rearview, Donker now has time to reflect and prepare for the lofty goals that surround his junior season. Even with all the excitement and uncertainty that lies ahead, Donker knows that he has already participated in a moment of a lifetime and extended the boundaries for what he is capable of as a swimmer.
"The experience was great, having another big meet under the belt," he said. "I know what to expect for the next one."
For more information on Minnesota Swimming & Diving, follow the Golden Gophers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching for "Minnesota Swimming & Diving."
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