Swimming and Diving Spotlight with Courtney Barker

NEW ORLEANS - Tulane University junior Courtney Barker took some time away from her busy schedule this week to chat with TulaneGreenWave.com about life as a student-athlete and what she plans to do following graduation in this week's Swimming and Diving spotlight.

How would you describe what its like to be a Student Athlete at Tulane?
"It's definitely super rewarding. With swimming it teaches me to have a strict schedule and get done what I need to get done. Also, the bonds with my teammates are unlike what other normal students have."

When did you know that you wanted to be a D1 swimmer?
"My senior year. Going into my senior year is when the recruiting process begins, you go on your trips. I didn't know for sure I wanted to swim, but after I went on my first visit, I knew this was what I wanted to do and be a part of."

Why did you decide on Tulane?
"I loved the city of New Orleans. Also, the academics were the best out of all the schools I looked at. Going on my recruiting trip and getting to meet the girls definitely swayed my decision."

What's the plan after you're done swimming?
"I'm majoring in finance and marketing right now and then I plan on getting my MBA. Probably not at Tulane, but somewhere else and then hopefully getting a job in a big city."

What do you want to do with these degrees?
"I would like to either go into consulting or sports marketing and hopefully one day own my own business. That's what I'm looking forward to. I still want to be in the sports world, but on the business side of it. Meshing the two together and being able to promote the big athletes or big companies is something I really want to do."

Why do you want to stay in sports?
"Because I love the friendships I've made. Also, just the sports world is unlike anything else. The people you meet and seeing how dedicated everyone is to what they do is different from other jobs I've seen. I just love sports and want to stay around it."

What's your daily training regime?
"Wake up at 5:30 a.m. Weights from 5:50 to 6:45 a.m. Swim from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. Class from 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Swim again from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Then I have night class tonight from 6:30 to 9:00, but it usually gets out around 8:00. Monday, Wednesday and Friday I don't have as much class so, I'll study in between 8:30 and 2:00 and go to the B-school or go to PJ's and study for a couple of hours, grab a cup of coffee, and then get back to swimming."

What do you do with your free time?
"I definitely like just being around my friends. I live off campus with a bunch of swimmers and golfers. I also just enjoy living in the city I guess. There's so much offered here with the parades and festivals."

Outside of swimming what's your favorite sport?
"My favorite sport to watch is definitely gymnastics. I grew up doing gymnastics actually and then I got too tall so, I had to stop, but I love the sport. I think its like just as rigorous and mentally tough as swimming. I really give a pat on the back to those who do it because its really hard. I also love watching basketball because it's so fast paced, there's always something going on, and it's really team oriented. You really got be in touch with your teammates to be good at basketball."

What is one thing that people should know about your meet preparation?
"I get really in the zone and I don't like talking to people. I'm really head strong and I like being by myself. My coach would say that I eat a lot and I probably do when I'm stressed out for a meet, will just keep munching. I'm a snacker."

What's you favorite snack?
"That's hard. I would say Whales. It's like goldfish but they're shaped as whales."

How important is your support group?
"Definitely really important. I have three sisters back at home and I've grown up always leaning on them. Also, my housemates are people I lean on. I go to them for everything. If I'm having a bad day or a bad practice, they're definitely who I call. I have twin older sisters and a younger sister. We were all actually raised by my dad. Big house."

Do you miss the cold weather up in Chicago?
"I do not miss the cold weather, but I miss the city. I'll definitely say out of all the places I've been Chicago is the best city."

Being from Chicago, are you a Cubs or White Sox?
"Cubs all the way."

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Swimming and Diving Spotlight with Courtney Barker

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Courtney Barker

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