Going for gold

Leave it to the teenage daughter to gum up the family's summer vacation plans.

Most years, Tim and Judy Kirchner return to the Shoals from their home on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands to visit family and friends. Natives of Colbert County - Tim is from Red Rock and Judy is from Tuscumbia - they enjoy spending time at the family home at Locust Shores on Pickwick Lake.

Julianne, the Kirchner's 16-year-old daughter, put a crimp in their annual Shoals excursion this year by doing the unthinkable - she qualified for the Olympic Games as one of the five-member Marshall Islands national team.

A swimmer, Julianne will compete in the 50 freestyle preliminary heats Aug. 15.

So, instead of spending time on the lake, the Kirchners are in Beijing, enjoying an Olympic lifestyle and hoping that Julianne can beat extreme odds to win a medal.

Julianne qualified for the Olympics at a meet in Christchurch, New Zealand, in June. Because the Kirchners have dual citizenship (U.S., Marshall Islands), Julianne was eligible to compete for the Marshall Islands.

Although Julianne was born at ECM Hospital in Florence and her parents are from Alabama, she has no qualms about representing the Marshall Islands.

"It doesn't feel strange at all," she said. "I have lived in the Marshall Islands for the majority of my life. I feel like it is my country, and I'm proud to represent the Marshall Islands in the Olympics."

Tim and Judy Kirchner are graduates of the University of North Alabama. Tim accepted a job in the Marshall Islands, and the family moved there in 1988.

Qualifying for the Olympics is the latest accomplishment in a career that began in earnest two summers ago at an international competition.

"That was the first time I was told that I had the potential to do more," Julianne said last week while training in Hawaii.

Since then, swimming has been at the forefront of her life in the Marshall Islands.

"I started working really hard to make it," she said. "I cut out a lot of social opportunities and took online courses this past semester because training takes up so much of my time."

Julianne swims four hours per day, three times a week, and two hours per day the rest of the week. Her preparations include extensive weight training, and she has run in two marathons and participated in several triathlons.

It was at the pool at the Sheffield Recreation Center, however, where Julianne got her start in swimming.

"I remember taking her down there when she was in the first grade," said June Hendrix, who is Julianne's grandmother. "I have eight grandchildren, and five of them are between 14-18. They were always around in the summer. Judy was getting her masters at UNA, and we would enroll them in whatever was going on. I can remember taking Julianne to Decatur for swim meets. Every summer when she came back, I'd take her to swim."

Julianne's last visit to the Shoals was last summer. She spent six weeks in Alabama, including a week at Auburn's swim camp where she met former AU coach David Marsh. She established a friendship with the legendary swim coach, who guided Auburn to 12 national championships.

According to Julianne, Marsh has had a major impact on her ascent in international swimming.

"I was thrilled to meet him," Julianne said. "He's one of the greatest coaches in the world."

Marsh provided Julianne with his e-mail address, cell phone number and training materials. He also has become a confidant for the young swimmer.

Before arriving in Beijing earlier this week, Julianne said she was eager for her Olympic experience.

"I've always loved the Olympics," she said. "When I was younger, mom always had us watch the Olympics on TV. We watched the swimming events the most, and we'd talk about the techniques and the different strokes. I have three or four friends who have been in the Olympics, and they say the experience is hard to describe. I can't imagine what it will be like. I think the Olympics is one of the most amazing things the world does - all the different countries coming together for a few weeks.

"Swimming has given me a unique opportunity," she said.

Gregg Dewalt can be reached at 740-5748 or gregg.dewalt@TimesDaily.com.