Posted: January 29, 2013

James Wood High School 14-year-old freshman

Sport: Swimming

Events: 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle

Parents: Bill and Linda Jackson

Hometown: Winchester

Nicknames: Not really. My old coach [at Valley Swim Team Phoenix] used to call me “Action Jackson.”

When did you start swimming: When I was about 6. My mom wanted me to try different sports. I had finished gymnastics around that time.

What you love about swimming: I love the adrenaline when you’re in the race and everybody’s cheering for you. I like being with my friends on the bus rides, because it’s really fun.

Biggest strength and weakness in swimming: [Strength], backstroke. I’ve just been doing it since I started swimming, and it’s always been my best stroke. [Weakness], breaststroke. I never swim it in meets. Sport you always wanted to try: Gymnastics, at this age. Watching Gabby Douglas and all those people in the Olympics this year, it looked really cool.Most memorable moment in swimming: I went to Rochester, N.Y. when I was 10 for the Eastern Zone Championships. I was the first one [on Valley Swim Team Phoenix] to qualify for the 50 backstroke. That was a lot of fun to push yourself against good swimmers. (Jackson took 13th at the competition, which featured swimmers from as far north as Maine and as far south as North Carolina.)

Favorite athlete: [Olympic gold medal swimmer] Ryan Lochte. He’s really inspirational, and I think he’s a good role model for younger kids also.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Ryan Lochte; [Olympic gold medal beach volleyball player] Misty May-Treanor; and [singer] Taylor Swift. I think Taylor Swift is a really good role model. She seems to not care what other people think about her and does her own thing. Misty May-Treanor is about, if you work for what you want, you can get it.

Favorite Quote: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” It gives you motivation I think. You’re not going to always win the first time you do something. So don’t give up and keep trying.

Pregame routine/ritual: I listen to a lot of pump-up music, just to get me in the mood to think I can do what I want to. I listen to “All I Do is Win” [by DJ Khaled].

Plans after high school: I want to go to Virginia Tech and become a criminal psychologist. It really interests me, criminals, like what goes on inside their minds, to make them do what they do.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki