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VALRICO (FOX 13) - Tampa Catholic's Christin Rockway is back home after making the biggest splash in her career at the National Championships in Indianapolis.
Christin swam the race of her life, hitting a new personal best in the 400IM and breaking the race's record, set in 2014, by 4 seconds. The race earned her a spot on the Under-18 U.S. World Junior Team.
"I just let it go. Let my mind go off and just raced," Rockway told FOX 13's Kevin O'Donnell. "My whole family was freaking out. My mom and aunts were there saying, 'Oh my God! [You] made the team.'"
It's been one incredible year for Christin. It started out with a state title with Tampa Catholic in November. Then, three weeks ago, Christin verbally committed to Indiana University. She caps it off earning that spot on the World Juniors National Team.
"It was a really emotional moment especially since I've been trying since 2015 to make this team," Christin said.
She has been swimming competitively since she was 7 years old with her sights set on Olympic gold. Her coach, Dave Gesacion has worked with her for the last 7 years and believes the transition she's made over the last 12 months has her in position for Tokyo in 2020.
"I think she's going to a program [Indiana] where that's the standard of putting people on international teams and Olympic teams," said Gesacion. "She's got a great chance to go there and put work. Be around a culture where that's the precedent."
Tampa Bay has been the home of some world-class swimmers and Christin wants to be the next star to represent her hometown.
She's also swimming for the entire country. Christin will be wearing red, white, and blue at the World Championships next month, back in Indianapolis.
"I'll be representing my home team," said Rockway. "I'll be representing my state and I'll be representing my country, which is probably the biggest honor anyone can have."