FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Connor Johnson took up swimming after watching his older brother Alex's success in the sport and as a source of competition between the two siblings.
Almost five years later, the 13 year-old is nationally ranked and setting his sights on higher aspirations within the sport.
He recently placed second in five different events in a southeastern U.S. zone championship swim meet in Florida. In the process, earned a 12th overall national ranking in his age group.
"I got three second place finishes in the 50-meter backstroke, the 100-meter backstroke and our relay," said Connor, who celebrated his 13th birthday Saturday. "I got fourth in the 50-meter breast stroke, sixth in the 200-individual medley and seventh in the 50-meter butterfly and eighth in the 50-meter freestyle."
Connor reflected on the period during which he first became interested in swimming. Although it was competitive, he said it was nowhere near as competitive as the competition he faces at his current level.
"(Competing with) my brother Alex is what got me into swimming," said Connor, an eighth grader at Village Christian Academy. "I wanted to try to beat him, but now, I just love the sport."
"It was more Connor than Alex," explained Penny Johnson, the boys' mother. "His brother is now not as involved, but he still plans to be around and he can still beat him in the 100-meter butterfly. Connor's gaining on him, but that is stroke and that's his goal to stay ahead of him on that."
The Johnson family has a long history in competitive sports. Their father, Col. Neil Johnson, a doctor, who is currently deployed to Iraq, is a former nationally ranked swimmer. Older brother Alex is an avid swimmer and their mother, Penny, is a former gymnast.
Connor said he has other goals for his future, but admitted that it does involve swimming.
"I would like to get a (swimming) scholarship for college and if I'm good enough, maybe go on to the Olympic trials," explained Connor, who named the University of North Carolina as his college of choice. "Hopefully, I would go far from there."
Penny said she totally supports her son in his goals.
"That would be great," she said. "I'm not ahead of any expectations. Where ever he decides to go and if they don't have sports, do it anyway. I went to a division III school and I did gymnastics until I got hurt and I loved it. Then I dove after that, but you still can do sports and you still can do well and it feels great."
Connor said he has an excellent support system, which includes his parents, siblings, teammates and his coach John Meier. He said they deserve part of the credit for his success.
"They encourage me and tell me what I'm doing wrong at practice," he said. "I listen to them because I really want to get better and so I look up to them for their help and support."
Meier pointed out that Connor's best events are the backstroke and the individual medley.
"He's very good ... among the top in the country," said Meier Saturday after a practice session at Fayetteville State University. "He ranks 12th nationally in a couple of events this year. Last year, he ranked 10th nationally in a couple of events, which is a pretty big accomplishment for kids.
Meier has coached Conner for three years and said he has seen his progression from a novice swimmer to a super competitive one. But he cautioned that with Johnson's recent birthday comes tougher competition.
"He's always been good in his age group," Meier said. "He has kept up and remained at the top of his group, but it's going to be tough for him now. He's turned 13, which is where they start competing against everyone else. He only has one more age group left, which is 13 to 14, but in most meets they get thrown in with the other competitors. It will be a big step, but he should be more than ready."
Connor pointed out that his team has just begun its short course season in preparation for a meet next month at the Fayetteville YMCA. He said for now, he plans to get ready to face his challengers.
"My biggest challenge is, now that I've turned 13, there are no more 50s and that's where I excelled more than anything else," he said. "So now I have to try to persevere through the 100s and I hope to get better at those."
Penny said she his proud of Connor's work ethic and his achievements.
"He works very, very hard and he tries and I think that's the biggest thing with him," she said.
She added that her husband's deployment has not affected Connor's determination during the season.
"He'll give his two cents ever so often, but the deployment really hasn't affected our lives because we're a very busy Family, which is a good thing," she added. "I think he just tries a little harder."
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