Leah Hatayama – College Team to the Olympic Trials

A Fresno State swimmer was one of 191 swimmers to compete in the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., in hopes of making the USA Olympic Swim Team. This year, the Olympic Games were hosted in Rio de Janeiro.

Leah Hatayama was a senior at Fresno State when she made the list to compete at the Olympic Trials. Hatayama started swimming in high school and continued to swim as part of the Fresno State team alongside her sisters.

In high school, Hatayama received recognitions such as Team All-League, B’nai Brith, and Monache MVP. While completing in college swimming, Hatayama was a part of the record-breaking relay team in 2014-2015.

Fresno State’s head coach, Jeanne Fleck, has known Hatayama since she was in high school. Fleck had watched Hatayama learn and grow. This year will be the first year that Fleck won’t have another Hatayama as part of her team.

Fleck said Hatayama was a sprinter and competitive; she loved to race and she loved to race for the team.

“When she started as a freshman, she didn’t have a lot of confidence, but as a senior, she was full of confidence. She’s fun to watch.”

The swim season at Fresno State ended in February; Hatayama began training in the summer to help prepare her for the Olympic Trials. Hatayama’s training was “relaxing and contained a lot of dry land and weights.”

Hatayama’s time during the Olympic Trial was 26.76 in the 50 free, 2.24 away from making the next phase of the Trials.

Even though Hatayama did not go on to make the Olympic Team, Fleck said Hatayama set the bar for the swim team.

“Leah showed them a path to reach their goals.”

Hatayama ended her swimming career and is now retired.

For more information, contact:

Jeanne Fleck (559) 278-2006