The movie Pride told part of Jim Ellis’ story. Brielle White, one of his swimmers, may well tell another part. Pictured here with coaches Ellis (right) and Tracy Freeland, Brielle White graduated from the University of Virginia in 2006 and trains every day with the PDR (Philadelphia Department of Recreation) swim club, the Olympics her goal.

White says she started swimming like my friend Char–her mother threw her in the water when she was 3. By 6, she was swimming competitively with Jim Ellis’ team. Brielle White has been a nationally ranked backstroker since she was 9 years old.

The 5’10 swimmer is used to being the top swimmer in her club; Brielle White was a seven-time All-American at Virginia. She knows how hard she will have to work to make the Olympic team, and has made the shifts necessary to prepare.

Like Cullen Jones, Brielle Smith started out swimming on an inner city team, to go on to be the only black face on their college team. She knows a little something about sub-par facilities. Excellent coaching made up for what the pool lacked. For all the talk about minority swimmers’ lack of access and facilities, both of these swimmers have made it happen, and hope to inspire others to follow them.

This Olympic swim trial promises to be an interesting one.