Foreign athletes adapt to college life in the U.S.

ANTE ZORICIC

HOME COUNTRY Croatia

SPORT Men’s swimmer, freestyle

IDS: Why did you decide to come to the U.S.?

AZ: The first thing I want – to finish and get a diploma from school. In Croatia, it is hard to study and do some sport, not professional, but on a high level. USA is probably the only country that would actually give you a chance.

IDS: What is the biggest difference between here and Croatia?

AZ: Studying and school is much different here than in Croatia.

IDS: Was there any big culture shock or culture changes?

AZ: Food is the biggest problem, you lose weight, you gain weight.

IDS: Is there a lesson you have learned by competing in the U.S.?

AZ: It’s the same here or there, if you take it serious. There are a lot of good guys here, and every meet it’s something different. The experience is important – more races is more time to get to know other people and other coaches and see how they do things and how they train.

KATE FESENKO

HOME COUNTRY Ukraine

SPORT Women’s swimmer, backstroke

IDS: Why did you choose to come to IU from a different country?  

KF: I wanted to go to college in the United States since I was like 14, maybe 13. At the Swimming World Championships in Melbourne, coach Mike Westphal came to me and just invited me. He really liked the way I was swimming and wanted me to be on the team.  

IDS: What has it been like since you’ve been here? Was there any kind of culture shock or any kind of hard times?   

KF: When I first got here, I was really missing my home, my family and my friends – for a month, probably. Maybe two months. But then it was fine.  

IDS: What has been the most difficult transition coming from the Ukraine to the United States?  

KF: I don’t know. I just really like to be at home and so I was really missing everybody. That was the hardest thing. I had traveled here before so I kind of knew what it was like here.  

IDS: How do you like swimming here at IU? What are you looking forward to this season?  

KF: I really like being here. I like all the team, all the coaches. For this season, well it’s my senior year and I just want to swim fast and show my best results. I want to help my team win a Big Ten title one more time.