DENTON - Kathleen Rousset discusses the differences between Round Rock and Denton as well as what she looks forward to the most this season in today's Behind the Blocks.

Name: Kathleen Rousset
Class: Sophomore
Event: 100/200 Breast
Hometown: Round Rock, TX


Q: How does Denton differ from your hometown?

A: Denton actually reminds me a lot of my hometown except Denton attracts a younger crowd being a college town. It has a lot of live music nearby, good places to eat, and a small town square like Round Rock. Denton is also close to a big city like Fort Worth and Dallas, just like Round Rock is very close to Austin.

Q: Who or what got you into the sport?

A: I started off with swim lessons like most people and later, my parents put me on my first summer league team when I moved to Round Rock when I was 7 so I could make some new friends and stay active. I tried a lot of different sports, but after doing summer league I realized I really enjoyed swimming the most and I wanted to start winning and be on the fast relays like the other kids, so my mom put me in club swimming when I was 9 and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Q: What is your favorite event to compete in?

A: I really love competing all breaststroke races (including the 200) but my favorite is the 100 breast. It’s so quick and just a lot of fun to do. The most exciting event to me though is the 200 medley relay because you never know what’s going to happen or how you match up with other teams.

Q: What event do you hope to never compete in?

A: I’ve competed in every event throughout my club swimming years, but I never want to compete the 1650 free again. That race just takes too long and is a little boring for me.

Q: What are you looking forward to most about the upcoming season?

A: I’m looking forward to training with everyone again and getting to know the new people on the team. I’m also excited for to see what we can do as a team at our Houston Invitational meet and then our training camp in San Diego again.

Q: What is your favorite sport to watch during the Olympics?

A: Swimming probably has to be my favorite sport to watch because I’m invested in it the most and I know a lot of the swimmers’ names, so it’s more fun to follow. After swimming though, I love watching gymnastics and beach volleyball too.

Q: Who is your team family?

A: My team family is the Incredibles!

Q: Do you have a hidden (or not so hidden) talent?

A: Some people may know, but I played water polo in high school, made state both my junior and senior year, and was selected for the all-region team in Texas, so that was a sport that came naturally to me through swimming. I’m also pretty good at baking desserts and even better at eating them.

Q: If you could trade places with one person, who would it be and why?

A: I would want to trade places with someone who has a really good singing voice, like Carrie Underwood, so I could just sing as beautifully as I want whenever I want. I think that would be pretty cool, and there would also be some perks like travelling all over the world to different places.