District News

For Kristen Romano, the journey to becoming an Olympian was one that was more than 20 years in the making, from when she first began swimming in Lancaster. After setting records at the high school level in Lancaster and Long Island, collegiately at The Ohio State University and while swimming for Puerto Rico, her swimming career took her to the pool at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre.

“I was a tiny girl on the pool deck at Stingrays in Lancaster at 3,” she told the Buffalo News. “Having that goal in mind for over 20 years — and when you achieve it, it’s almost like you can’t process that it’s coming to fruition.”

Despite winning her preliminary heat in the 200-meter individual medley, Romano’s Olympics ended in the preliminary round as her finishing time fell about a second away from qualifying for the event’s semifinals. Romano described competing at the Olympics a “life-long dream.”

As she readied for the World Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary in December, Romano said she was also preparing to graduate with a master’s degree in sport management and sport law.

What word would you use to describe your time in Paris, and why?

One word that I would use to describe my time in Paris would be fulfilling. Competing at the Olympic Games was a life-long dream for me and getting to do so in Paris made the fulfillment of that dream so much sweeter.

What do you learn from competing and interacting with the world’s best swimmers and athletes?

The key to success is having fun and celebrating the little wins! It’s easy to get wrapped up in the highs and lows of international competition, but the athletes that have the most success are the ones that have a plan, stick to it, and reevaluate if their plans don’t work out.

What is the best advice you’ve received, either in or out of the swimming pool?

“Success is not final and failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” Don’t let a challenge or a setback keep you from embracing the opportunity to reach your goals.

How has growing up in Lancaster helped your development as an athlete and as a person?

Growing up in Lancaster allowed me to cultivate my dreams for the future while staying close to my family. It taught me the importance of family and community in the pursuit of big goals.

What advice would you give Lancaster students who have their own dreams they want to pursue?

Don’t let anyone tell you that your dreams are too big or that you can’t achieve your goals. Don’t set limits on yourself. The road to success may be a lonely one but it will always lead to a better view. Embrace the things that set you apart.

This article ran as part of the Lancaster Central School District 2025 Winter Newsletter. View the full newsletter at https://bit.ly/42CThD9