Swimmer Looks to Break Barriers in Open Water and Pool Competitions in Summer Olympics

A Malibu swimmer is attempting to become the first American to qualify in both the open water and pool competitions in the Summer Olympics.

"It's definitely a huge honor to represent the United States and every time you get to put on a USA cap and race, it's pretty special. I'm really excited to go down to Rio," said Jordan Wilimovsky.

The 22-year-old swimmer got his ticket to Rio after winning the 2015 World Championships in the 10k open water swim.

He admits that he never thought he'd get to the Olympics.

Wilimovsky will swim the 1500-meter qualifying event Saturday. 

Now it has taken over his life with all the training he has to do.

"You just wake up and you're like, 'don't hit the snooze button,'" Wilimovsky said.

He waits for the pool to open everyday at 5:30 a.m.

Dave Kelsheimer, head coach for the Santa Monica team, has been coaching Wilimovsky for six years.

"He's not a big guy physically, but he's a big guy in spirit and he's got a hell of a fight in him and that's his secret," Kelsheimer said.

Wilimovsky said he wasn't always the greatest swimmer, and that he failed his first swim test when he was 9 years old for a junior lifeguard program -- a story he shared with kids at the Canyon Charter School in Santa Monica.

"I think he has potential to win a medal absolutely, but we really can't control what everybody else does, so we're just going to focus on him, making sure that he's the best he's ever been," said Kelsheimer.

"I'm not very concerned with it. I mean, I'm going to swim either way and I know from talking to the other guys racing, they're going to swim either way," Wilimovsky said.

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