“It is really exciting,” he said, about the ISL grand finale in Las Vegas. He acknowledged that it is “incredible” to have Jason Lezak as the General Manager of the team. “Ever since I watched his 2008 relay at the Olympic Games, he has been a big idol of mine,” Ress admitted. “Any time I do a relay, he is an inspiration to me.”
On his daily motivations, he said, “Swimming brings out the best in people. I think it is cool to go to places and meet people from different cultures and different backgrounds. Swimming is just a great experience, it makes me a better person, and obviously, it keeps me in shape.”
Regarding the impact of technology on the sport of swimming, Ress said, “It is great from a training standpoint, to perfect your turnover rates and strokes. When it comes to the actual race, I think it is ever going to change. In the race, you are never focusing on those small things, you just hope you’ve done them right in training. It is all about constantly doing the little things over and over.”
For young and aspiring swimmers, Ress encouraged them to have fun with the sport. “It really is so true,” he said. “You need to stay mentally healthy and emotionally engaged in swimming. Make sure you are in the right place emotionally at all times.”
He is looking forward to the Olympic Trials in 2020, which will take place in Omaha, Nebraska, where he will be vying for a coveted spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
Ress listed freestyle and backstroke as his favorite strokes in swimming. “Short course, I like freestyle better, while long course, I like backstroke better,” he said.
Aside from swimming, Ress is a Blink-182 enthusiast, and he enjoys playing the guitar. At the moment, his favorite Blink-182 song is “Not Now.”
For his fans and supporters, Ress said, “The fans are the reasons athletes and entertainers are able to do what they do. Thank you to them. They are the only reason that we can make a living out of athletics.”
Ress defined success as a feeling of fulfillment. “There are different levels of success and the word success is different for everybody,” he explained. “Success is whatever fulfills you and benefits you at the same time.”
To learn more about American swimmer Justin Ress, follow him on Instagram and on Twitter.
