WRAL Sports Fan

Olympics

Green Hope's Moore makes a splash at Olympic trials

Jul 10, 2012

Apex, N.C. — When Hannah Moore returns to Green Hope High School this fall, she will have a good story to tell when someone asks what she did this summer.

The 15-year-old rising junior just returned from a trip to Omaha, Neb., where she was one of the youngest competitors in the Olympic swimming trials.

"It was the coolest thing I've ever seen in my whole life," Moore said. "It was like the best meet ever."

Moore didn't crumble under the pressure of swimming against the best in the country. She surprised many, including herself, by making it to the semi-finals and finishing 11th in her best event.

"I realized I'm not too far off the top two," said Moore. "Maybe in four years, if I'm ready, I think I could."

Her coach agrees.

"She's good and she's getting better quickly" said Moore's coach Kit Raulerson. "She's definitely one of the up-and-coming stars on the USA swimming roster."

Now she's got some really serious experience, too. Hannah shared a pool with Olympians like Missy Franklin and Elizabeth Beisel who will be London.

"My friend got a picture of me hugging Elizabeth Beisel after my race which was like the best moment of my life," Moore said. "I was awe struck."

"We put 44 people on the Olympic team and there are 300,000 people swimming," said Raulerson. "It's a rare accomplishment in our country. She's put herself in the position to be right there in the mix in four years."

Moore has hundreds of hours in the pool and two more years of high school before she gets another shot at the US Team. In the meantime, she's got bragging rights for the best summer vacation.

• Reporter: Mandy Mitchell
• Web Editor: Erin Summers