Athlete Spotlight: James Wood girls' swimmer Kallie Gyurisin

James Wood High School 16-year-old junior

Sport: Girls’ swimming. Events: 100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley and relays

Parents: Karen and Zach Gyurisin

Hometown: Winchester

What do you love about swimming?: I like the competitiveness of the sport and how you can usually track how well you’re doing, so you can push yourself to drop time.

Most memorable moment in swimming: It was states my freshman year when me and Annie Hua played hide-and-seek with our teammates. We were the ones who didn’t get found.

Most embarrassing moment in swimming: When I showed up to take team photos this year after I tried a fake tan. I looked really orange.

Most difficult moment in swimming: I get really bad race anxiety and it impacts how I swim and how fast I go. Trying to get out of my head is the most difficult part. I try to sing songs in my head. “Rich Baby Daddy” [works best].

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: My friend and her mom [Sophia and Erin Kaplan] who moved to Seattle and my mom, too. We haven’t seen each other in a really long time and her mom passed away. She was like a second mom to me and I really love her. ... I think it would be fun to all hang out together again.

Who is your biggest athletic influence?: My teammates because they push me to do my best at all of the practices and meets I go to.

Favorite teacher: Mr. [Scott] Madeoy. He’s really funny and I like his class. I have him for pre-calculus.

Favorite athlete: Katie Ledecky

Favorite sports team: Washington Nationals

Favorite movie: “Mamma Mia”

Favorite TV show: “The Gilmore Girls”

Favorite song: “Right Where You Left Me” by Taylor Swift

Favorite food: Sushi. I like all sushi.

Worst thing you’ve eaten: Sauerkraut.

Plans after high school: I plan on continuing my swim career in college and majoring in exercise science to become a physical therapist. I’ve always been a big athletics person. I’ve loved being athletic and I’ve liked sports. I wanted to be a doctor, but I’d pass out if I was a doctor. So, I thought physical therapy would be perfect.

— Compiled by Walt Moody