CHESAPEAKE, Va. — While most of us are still sleeping, Gabe Nunziata is grinding.
“Training and waking up at 3:30 in the morning to go drive to weights and then going to school after practice is obviously really time-consuming but it's all worth it," he said of his rigorous agenda.
It doesn’t seem like there are enough hours in the day for the former triathlete’s schedule but in the last two years, he’s turned his attention to the pool, swimming with Old Dominion Aquatic Center in the club's Senior One top-level group.
“I thought it would be a good decision for college and I enjoyed swimming more than triathlon,” Nunziata said.
So, what takes up the time that biking and running used to occupy? Well, for starters, the U.S. Olympic team trials take up the time. He qualified at the ISCA International Cup in late March, in which he clocked his lone trial time, a 2:15.36 in the 200 breast.
“It was incredible. Being at that pool, at that stadium with that environment was just unreal. Going into the meet I was obviously a little nervous but when I thought about it, I was like, there’s no pressure. I got really excited to go into it and just wanted to perform well.”
Nunziata dropped time in the three events he swam and recorded a personal best of 1:00.36 in the 100 breaststroke time trials, the 5th fastest time ever in his age group. Additionally, his time in the 200 breaststroke ranks 12th all-time in his age group.
“Normally a first-time person would walk in, just experience the moment, and have some decent swims. But the amount of time that he dropped within his events is substantial," said Steve Bialorucki who's in his 30th year coaching ODAC.
The youngest of nine local qualifiers, Nunziata is only entering his senior year at StoneBridge School in Chesapeake. He has verbally committed to attend Tennessee after he graduates in 2025.
“You’re stepping up into a situation where Gabe was 54th going into the 200 breaststroke and he got 12th or 13th going into the semifinals. He didn’t make the top eight but was certainly very respectable. He was the youngest person there. He’s 17 and the average age there is 23,” said Bialorucki. “From where he’s at now and where he wants to be and being this age now, in four years, he’ll be 21 and he’ll just be beginning his prime. He’s in a really good spot and he’s done tremendous work to get there.”
Nunziata's Olympic dreams don't seem too far away.
“As I more accomplished in the sport such as going to trials it helped me realize that those things are possible and that’s what I really want to do,” Nunziata said.
