Union Graduate Competes In Olympic Trials - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather & Sports

Union Graduate Competes In Olympic Trials

"Always know that there's good people who surround you that help you get to places where you're at, in your life," said Brenda Holloway as her son, Eastman Holloway swims in the pool behind her.

On Monday, Eastman will compete in the Olympic trials in the 400 freestyle. "I just need to see it as another race, and that's what I've been doing," said Eastman.

He started swimming at 8-years-old, at a club near his former home in Hawaii. "The coach there really instilled in me the passion for swimming. Every Friday and Saturday we'd go to the beach and we'd swim with the dolphins and the turtles and I mean it just brought something out in me that just made me start really loving swimming. It made me feel like this is something that maybe God wants me to be in," Eastman said.

That passion got a push, when in 8th grade he moved to Oklahoma and started school at Union. "My coach here, Dave Lynn, he's brought me up to be an amazing swimmer. After the love that I learned in Hawaii, he's the one that brought the motivation and the hard work."

Eastman practices for 5 hours a day.

This year he helped his Union team win their first state championship, and this fall he'll compete for SMU.

But first-- thanks to inspiring coaches, and the support of his family, he'll try out for the Olympics.

"I can't wait to jump in the water 7:30 Monday morning and we'll see what happens."