Written by KATIE STONE
Patrick Hussey is the first UNC swimmer to compete in the Olympics since 2004. Hussey represented Team Canada in the 4×200 freestyle relay. Hussey and his teammates didn’t advance to the final, finishing 14th in the heats.
Hussey is proud to represent UNC in the Olympics. He said, “I think that it’s pretty special just having all my coaches supporting me and I think they’re part of this journey as well. Even though I’m representing Canada, I’m also representing UNC. It’s been super special just having my name on the Olympic board at the pool and just being part of that group.”
Learning from UNC head coach and two-time Olympic gold medalist Mark Gangloff helped Hussey prepare for the Olympics. Hussey said, “He’s definitely helped a lot. I think that the NCAA season and the long course season for the Olympics is very different. Not a lot of people like that extra long course season. Having him there and guiding us throughout the season really helps. It’s a long, long season. It’s year-round. He’s very wise and he knows what he’s talking about. It’s been really helpful to have him.”
In addition to the impressive academics, Gangloff and his assistant coaches were a primary reason that Hussey chose to attend UNC.
Hussey is looking forward to his fifth year at Carolina. He’s excited to study in the Master of Accounting (MAC) program and be a leader on the swim team. Hussey said, “I think also it’ll be fun having my fifth year being part of the team and seeing how much I can help out there as well. The UNC swim team is getting a lot better, so I’m really excited for that and just to help out in my last year.”
Hussey has undoubtedly contributed to the growth of the UNC swim team. Recording a time of 1:32.87 in his senior season, he set the school record in the 200-meter freestyle. Hussey is determined to improve his time even more. His goal is to get faster and consequently help the whole team.
“I think a lot of it would be a two-way goal,” he said. “I think that as I get better in my event, it will also help out the team a lot. Scoring more points at NCAA, getting more guys to go as well. Bigger roster and faster times and just helping out the team.”
Hussey realized his Olympic potential during his sophomore year at UNC, when he saw his times drop significantly. Competing at UNC and in the NCAA has helped prepare Hussey for the Olympics.
“NCAA is also one of the biggest levels ever, especially in swimming,” he added. “It’s so fast and it has a huge reputation for being one of the biggest names. Going from that to this, I’d say NCAA has helped a bit just because it’s so big there. I’d say the only big difference is the crowd. The crowd here was insane. Being in France and just having thousands of people, it was insane. In terms of the skill set of the swimmers, I’d say the NCAA was quite comparable.”
Patrick Hussey swims during Day 4 of the 2024 ACC Swimming and Diving Championship at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Hussey competed with Team Canada during the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo via Carolina Athletics.)
A few of Hussey’s Canadian teammates also compete in the NCAA for other schools. He enjoys hearing their stories and competing alongside athletes who are his “rivals” in the NCAA.
“I think that what’s really special,” said Hussey, “is that we all have a different background but we’re all ending up at the same place. I think it’s pretty cool just hearing everyone’s stories. A lot of them are in the States as well, doing what I’m doing. It’s cool to have different people from different schools and just be on the same team even though we’re rivals too. I think that especially for those medaling, it’s cool to hear their story too. They’re the best in the world and it’s just great being next to them and I’m learning a lot from them and hopefully can kind of translate that to UNC as well.”
Hussey also enjoyed spending time with UNC diver Aranza Vázquez Montaño, who’s also competing in the Olympics. The two of them have gotten together for dinner a few times, and Vázquez has shared her wisdom from previous Olympics with Hussey.
Now that Hussey has accomplished his long-time goal of being an Olympian, he’s reflecting on what he wants his new goals to be.
“I think that I need to work on that a little bit, just because so many of my goals have been to make it here and [I] haven’t really reset many,” Hussey said. “I have been thinking about it a bit and they’re kind of just less individualized. So, I think that for me now in my fifth year, just having fun and seeing how I can help UNC more. I’ve obviously completed one of the biggest goals that an individual would like to have. For me next year, really just focusing on the team and just really want UNC to kind of pop off.”
Featured photo via Carolina Athletics.
The Chapel Hill Media Group is partnering with the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media to publish stories reported by students in Paris, France for the 2024 Olympic Games. Katie Stone is one of 25 student journalists working under the direction of professor Charlie Tuggle, who are publishing their stories through a variety of North Carolina outlets.
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