Get to Know Emily Lundgren

Pullman, Wash. – Emily Lundgren completed the 2024-25 Swim season with 10 new titles together with All-American honors in two occasions and Academic All-American accolades. Lundgren additionally broke 4 particular person faculty data and helped break three relay faculty data. After spending her summer season competing towards a few of the world’s finest swimmers on the U.S. Nationals, Lundgren enters her last season as a Coug stuffed with expertise and data.
 
We just lately sat down with Lundgren forward of her senior season.
 
How was swimming on the U.S. Nationals?
It was cool, a bit of little bit of a step down. Lower stakes from final summer season on the US Olympic group trials. It was in a a lot smaller venue; it was extra relaxed and fewer strain. But it was enjoyable, not solely swimming however attending to see the quickest individuals on this planet and within the US swimming. [All] attempting to get a spot on that worlds group was tremendous inspiring and pushed me to work tougher.
 
You had been on the NCAA qualifier this previous yr, how was it totally different from U.S. Nationals?
NCAA was sooner, they’re two totally different yardages. NCAA is brief course yards, and this meet was lengthy course meters. It was a bit of bit extra of uncharted territory, I really feel comfy competing on the NCAA degree however as soon as we get to that meet there have been much more professionals. I noticed Olympians warming up, like Katie Ledecky. I swam in the identical lane as her a pair instances. Besides Olympic trials that is the primary actual U.S. nationals that I’ve been to. I’ve competed at that NCAA degree however, getting on the market and racing towards extra skilled swimmers is new to me.
 
What had been a few of the totally different challenges you confronted on the meets over the summer season?
Dealing with tiny accidents and having to get via these, and a few illness that was difficult. And lacking dwelling, lots of my mates and teammates acquired to go dwelling or went dwelling and educated. So, staying over summer season was tough. But we had a very good chunk of individuals right here in order that made coaching much more enjoyable. Especially having the ability to prepare with Darcy [Levitt] on the Olympic coaching heart earlier than nationals was a very huge assist. I used to be in a position to get some lengthy course and altitude coaching there, I believe I might’ve gone loopy if she wasn’t there. It was quite a bit; it was enjoyable having another person undergo the onerous practices I needed to undergo earlier than nationals.
 
You had been Named All-American in 200 Breast and NCAA All-America Honorable Mention in 100 Breast, what do these titles imply to you?
It grew to become actual over the summer season, having the ability to take a step again from every part that occurred in the direction of the top of the varsity yr. I believe that was my lifelong dream to be an All-American, after my freshman yr I acquired useless final at NCs. I used to be like ‘okay subsequent yr I’m going to do even higher, I’m going to make the second group’. I used to be so hungry for that, so being named first group All-American was surreal to me. I put in all of the work, so I knew that I labored for it, however it was nonetheless loopy having that official title. The corridor of fame board going up and seeing each these years in crimson, which means I used to be an All-American twice in a row was tremendous cool.
 
How do these titles inspire you for this upcoming season?
I do know I’ve huge targets for this yr, my greatest purpose in swimming was to turn out to be an All-American after getting that I needed to reevaluate my targets. So now I’ve some greater targets which are going to pressure me to work even tougher in that pool. Last yr I used to be trying up there and I wished to be in that A-Final and be a primary group. Now that I’ve that I simply maintain attempting to keep in mind that feeling. And truthfully simply maintain working twice as onerous. I’m not going to take something without any consideration. I understand how a lot work it takes; I’m ready for the work that it is going to take. It’s going to be an extended journey, however it’s solely seven months of onerous work. Which is nothing to the legacy that I’ll go away behind.
 
You had been the Mountain West Conference swimmer of the yr, profitable particular person titles in each the 200 IM and the 200 breast. As properly as serving to your group win two relay titles. Looking again on these, what stood out to you when incomes these titles?
Individually I knew what I needed to do to get these titles, that final 200 breast title was tremendous surreal. I had been seeded second or third going into finals, I used to be hungry for the title. Luckily my dad was there to look at and seeing him so excited for me profitable was cool. I believe my favourite title I received at that meet was our 200-medley relay, it was the very first relay of the meet, and the very first time competing within the Mountain West. All of us had been tremendous calm, we simply knew it was going to line up completely and we had been going to do what we wished to do. And I simply truthfully return and watch that video a lot as a result of all of us felt like superhuman and completely crushed it.
 
What has been your favourite reminiscence of WSU up to now?
There’s two that come to thoughts, profitable my sixth place trophy at NCAA this previous yr. Just seeing my teammates that had been there and the coaches, seeing everybody’s onerous work repay as a result of it wasn’t simply me. Honestly each convention meet, the primary two years was at PAC-12 and final yr was at Mountain West, these had been the place all our onerous work comes forward, and all of us simply pour every part into that meet. I at all times see us come collectively and simply no matter challenges we’re confronted with, we maintain overcoming them. So, truthfully each single convention meet I’ve had has been such a very good reminiscence for me.
 
What’s your finest piece of recommendation for younger swimmers?
It may sound a bit of tacky, however do not quit. There are instances the place I really feel like I need to quit, whether or not it is in observe or simply once I was going via highschool swimming. It’s at all times price it, discovering a strategy to keep motivated and maintain going even for those who hit a wall or plateau.  You get previous these, and you may finally see success come out of your onerous work.
 
What’s the most effective piece of recommendation you’ve got ever been given?
The finest piece of recommendation I’ve been given was from Russ [Russell Whitaker] this previous yr, which was “enjoy it, take in the moment. Don’t walk out of the tunnel too fast or get ahead.” I earned that, and to actually soak within the second. I’ve bother giving myself grace or celebrating myself for issues. So that recommendation was to be pleased with myself, and I take that to coronary heart. I’m actually going to attempt to work on that this yr too.  
 
When did you understand that you just wished to proceed swimming in faculty?
My older sister swam in faculty; she’s 4 years older than me. Just previous her midway mark once I began getting recruited. The recruitment course of is worrying; it was proper in the midst of covid. I went forwards and backwards if it was even one thing that I wished to do. But as quickly as quickly as I began speaking to Washington State, and exploring extra of what faculty swimming was, I heard so many good issues. No one is compelled, everybody chooses to be right here. It’s a lot like a household, and it is mechanically like I’ve 28 finest mates on the group. I get to see them on daily basis and do what I like. During that recruiting course of was actually once I wished to swim in faculty due to my older sister and seeing the success she had and the reminiscences she made for certain.
 
What are you most excited for this season?
Just taking within the final of every part, I do not know the place my swimming journey goes to take me after this however I’m excited to be a pacesetter on the group. I need to move on issues that I’ve discovered or struggles that I’ve needed to make their profession at WSU simpler and extra profitable, simply assist push everybody to be the most effective model of themselves. I need to be that individual that hopefully individuals look as much as and go away a constructive impression on everybody. But actually having fun with that point, I can not even imagine it has been 4 years and taking in every part. I’m excited and I believe we will have a giant group go to NCAAs this yr, I’m excited to observe and compete, and be one huge household.