Girloanta reflects on World Aquatic Championships experience

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Eden Girloanta, a sophomore distance swimmer for the Southern Illinois swimming and diving program, spent a portion of her summer in the spotlight at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

The native of Ramat Gan, Israel competed in the 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer open water races against top-ranked swimmers in the world at the championship event that was also a cut for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. She was one of only two swimmers that competed for Israel on the women's side in open water events.

"I competed against some of the best swimmers in the world because it was an Olympic cut event," Girloanta said. "All of the world champions and Olympic champions were there. Nobody wanted to miss this competition."

In preparation for the event, Girloanta spent time in June at the renowned U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Co.

"The U.S. Olympic Training Center was a cool and new experience," Girloanta said. "It was my first time training in altitude and it felt like a different world. You breathe less oxygen in altitude, so you struggle to even climb a hill or take the stairs at first. After a week or two, you begin to adjust and by the end of the training, you don't even notice the difference. But when you go back down from altitude after training, you go a lot faster and feel like you have so much more air."

Swimmers she idolized at a young age were now ones she found herself next to on the national stage once she arrived to South Korea in early July. Girloanta went on to place 35th in the 5K (1:01:37.10) and 38th in the 10K (2:00:34.60).

"A lot of the swimmers that I competed against were ones that I used to watch on TV, so it was a surreal moment," Girloanta said. "I raced against a few of the same competitors in previous international events, but I was always further behind, so it didn't feel the same. In the 10K, we had six loops and I was swimming in the top pack for the first four. Sticking with some of the best in the world was special."

Top aquatic talent surrounded Girloanta with exposure, but her main concern was with the opening portion of her two races, rather than the increased attention.

"There were cameras everywhere," Girloanta said. "You go in the water, you go out of the water, there were always people interviewing or taking pictures of you. It just feels like you're in a big moment. But I was most nervous about staying with the pack once each race started. The first part of the race is always the most important for me, because if you don't start fast enough and lose everybody, you are kind of out of the game. But once I saw that I was still in it after a few loops, I felt a big sign of relief and that I truly belonged."

While Girloanta has represented Israel in international events around the world, it was her first time competing in South Korea.

"South Korea was different than anything I have ever experienced," Girloanta said. "From the food, to the time difference and weather, it was a bigger adjustment than what I was used to."

With the Salukis' opening meet two weeks away, Girloanta has shifted her focus to the upcoming season. As a freshman, Girloanta earned All-MVC first team honors and swam team-best times in the 500-free and 1650-free. However, she does plan to return to international competition at the conclusion of the season.

The European Cup is in March of 2020," Girloanta said. "The plan is to go and try to make the national team again and do well in the cup. If I make the team, I'll be at the European Championships in May and the second Olympic cut in June."

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