Making the Team Colorado swim team had been a goal of Cortez’ Brinley Duran for a long time.
While Duran continued to excel for the Durango Swim Club, it appeared as if that goal was well within reach. However, a hard fall in an accident at a friend’s house and a broken wrist later, her dream of competing for the statewide squad at the Group Zones swim meet in August seemed to be slipping away.
“That feeling like this injury might mess up the whole season, it was insane,” recalled Duran, before she turned her focus toward getting back in the pool. “I remember asking the doctor if I could be back in four weeks – ‘I need to swim in this meet (in Grand Junction)’.”
A self-proclaimed fierce competitor, the 12-year-old wouldn’t let the matter of a broken bone hold her back.
“I was so determined, I went and kicked at every single practice until I got my cast off,” she added, waking up at 4:30 a.m. to get to one of her eight weekly practices.
Needing some rigorous qualifying times in Grand Junction to improve her résumé for Team Colorado, just days after removing her cast, Duran was back on the blocks in search of her second qualifying time of the season.
“Even though I wasn’t supposed to touch the wall with my left (injured) hand, I was like ‘oh well,’ and I’m glad I did, because it helped me get the time I needed,” said Duran, who posted a strong time in the 200 backstroke.
A few days later, Duran learned that she had been named as one of 16 girls in the 11-12 year-old division to be named to the Team Colorado Zone Team.
The Zone Team will compete in Elk Grove, California, Aug. 5-10, with a total of 80 Coloradans aged 14 and under representing the Centennial State among some of the top swimmers in the western United States. The Zone Team’s selection process considered applicants from all over the state, with each additional qualifying standard met helping to improve one’s chances of making the team.
Duran’s two standard-meeting times came in the 100 and 200 backstroke – one of her strongest strokes. She added a third standard in the 400 freestyle at the Western Slope Championship meet over the weekend of July 12-13 in Grand Junction – as she earned high-point honors while helping the Durango Swim Club pursue their fourth straight WSL team championship.
While she’s an intense competitor, Duran’s kindness and positive energy is beloved by her teammates, coaches and opponents alike – making her achievement not only a source of personal pride, but one that the whole Western Slope swimming community is excited to witness.
“I love racing, but it’s even more fun to see my friends from other teams at meets that I don’t get to see very often,” said Duran.
A strong meet in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in May helped bolster Duran’s confidence, where she posted one of her two backstroke qualifying times – shortly before the injury nearly derailed her plans. Her hard-nosed approach to getting back gives her a major boost heading into the Zones competitions, especially knowing that she qualified while being less than 100%.
“I was feeling really confident about how I was able to hit the standard while dealing with the injury,” said Duran, “and it made me wonder what I can do when I’m healthy.”
Duran’s success continues what has been a remarkable youth swimming career, where she has ranked among the top swimmers in her age group over the past several years. Much like her older sisters Victoria, Caisey, and Bailey – all competitive swimmers as well – Brinley continues to set the standard high for herself while representing southwest Colorado next month.
Duran is keeping it in perspective, however, as she looks forward to her chance that nearly didn’t happen. “It makes me appreciate the whole opportunity even more, to be there with the team and remember the special moments that it took to get me there.”
