St. Louis Park swimmer is breaststroke specialist

The state swimming honor roll confirms it: While many of the same names also occupy the top spots in other events, the 100-yard breaststroke is often filled with names that crop up only in that event.

For St. Louis Park's Kathryn Ostrom, the breaststroke is her specialty. She won the event as a sophomore last year at the Class 1A state meet, following older sister Megan, who won it as a senior in 2009.

Staff writer Jim Paulsen talked with Kathryn about what draws her to the breaststroke.

Q So far, how has this season progressed for you?

A My stroke has felt good so far. I'm just trying to stick with it and get better.

Q It seems like there is a family fondness for the breaststroke. Why?

A Maybe it's because when I was little, I wanted to be like my sister. She was really good, so I wanted to be like her. And we both struggle with the backstroke. The breaststroke is something that comes naturally to us.

A Yes, I was. I was just thinking about getting into the top eight and placing higher than I did the year before. I never realized I could actually win it.

Q Has winning it last year put more pressure on you this year?

A Maybe a little. There is more added pressure from my school. It seems like the whole school knows I won it last year. All my classmates keep coming up to me and saying "You won it last year. You're going to win it again."

Q What is so different about the breaststroke than other strokes?

A Well, your shoulders are never completely rotating like in the butterfly or the backstroke or the freestyle. And in those [other] strokes, your knees never completely bend like in the breaststroke.

A I've been working hard on my turns and pullouts. Like in the butterfly, the breaststroke is an open turn. I always fall behind on turns, so I've been getting my legs stronger so I can push off the wall harder.

Q Do you do anything to get away from swimming?

A Swimming kind of takes up most of my life, but I like hang out with friends and keep up with my school work. I go hunting with my dad. He's a big hunter.

Q Really? What do you hunt?

A [Sunday] I went pheasant hunting somewhere up north of Elk River.

A We got four. I shot one. It was fun. I like to shoot. I'm a member of the St. Louis Park school trap-shooting team.

Q Do you hunt anything else?

A No. But I might go deer hunting this year.

Q What to you prefer, shooting or swimming?

A Definitely swimming. I put a lot more pressure on myself when I swim.