Genine Collins ’27 is a force to be reckoned with in the pool. On Nov. 8, the junior swimmer broke Swarthmore and Centennial Conference records in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.25, beating out her previous 23.30 school record. For her accomplishments in the free, as well as first place finishes in the 100 butterfly (57.33), 200 free relay (1:36.59), and 200 medley relay (1:46.80), Collins was named Centennial Swimmer of the Week. On Dec. 5 against Rowan University, Collins took home two wins in the 50 free (23.61) and 100 fly (57.28). Simply put, there’s no stopping Collins once she’s in the water. She is a 9x CSCAA All-American, 13x NCAA Qualifier and 14x All-Centennial athlete, just to name a few of her honors. For the 2024-2025 season, the biochemistry major and linguistics minor was named into the CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team, Academic All-Centennial team, and PhillyIDA Academic All-Area team for her academic achievements.
Swarthmore women’s swimming is ranked No. 13 in the CSCAA national rankings and remains undefeated with a 6-0 overall record and 4-0 conference record. In their opening meet at the Centennial Quad, the team blew out the competition with a combined 614 points against a combined 167 points set by the other three participants. Last year, the team posted an undefeated 10-0 overall record and a 7-0 conference record to win their fourth consecutive Centennial Conference Championship, and placed tenth of 59 teams in the NCAA Championships. The Garnet look forward to their next meet against Johns Hopkins University, who have joined the Centennial Conference for the 2025-2026 season.
Aimee Lee: Congrats on your success so far! How are you feeling, both mentally and physically?
Genine Collins: Thank you! I’m definitely feeling a bit tired. November through December is always the most difficult stretch of the season, and going right into finals is a tough transition, but it also is the time when my strokes start feeling fast again and I get excited to see what I can do in February and beyond!
AL: How is the season coming along for the team? Are there team goals that you have set for the season?
GC: I think we’re having a successful season so far! The coaches have given us multiple opportunities this semester to discuss the qualities we desire most in our teammates and our team as a whole. Having a team full of people who support each other in and out of the pool is important to me. I think a team with good communication at its core is best equipped to handle the ups and downs of a season!
AL: Are there any memorable moments from the season that you look back upon with a smile?
GC: The alumni meet was definitely a cool experience. I loved chatting with the juniors and seniors from my first year and racing a few events with them. I was a bit nervous to meet the alumni who graduated prior to my first year, but it was easy to connect with them at the reception. Despite never being on the team together, it felt just like catching up with my teammates.
AL: Competition days can be full of nerves and excitement. Do you have any pre-meet or pre-race routines to help you focus?
GC: I don’t have any strict routines, but I try to just focus on one event at a time during meets. It’s easy to be hypercritical after a tough race and overly anxious for the next event. I’ve learned that the best way to have a successful meet is to set aside all thoughts I have about a race, positive or negative, until the end of the meet.
AL: Support is a crucial part of an athlete’s success, no matter the competition. How have your teammates and coaches contributed to your accomplishments?
GC: During my first year, I felt like I needed to earn my place on the team. I was so nervous that [Head Swimming Coach Karin Colby and Associate Head Swimming Coach Sam Davy] would think they made a mistake recruiting me if I didn’t positively contribute to the team by scoring points and swimming fast. Looking back, the only reason I was able to bear all the pressure I was putting on myself was by confiding in my coaches and teammates. Each year, I’ve gotten better at asking for support when I need it. I’m so lucky to have a full team of kind and encouraging people to rely on.
AL: How did you first get into competitive swimming? When you reflect on that moment and the success you have thus far, what comes to mind?
GC: My parents enrolled me in swim lessons because they didn’t want me to drown at a pool party! My teacher recommended signing me up for the YMCA’s swim team after I graduated from lessons, and I started competitively swimming at five years old. I remember always crying and needing my coach to walk down the side of the pool as I swam; I’m pretty sure I was disqualified nearly every race! Looking back, I’m proud of myself for sticking with it and growing to love the sport.
AL: What do you hope younger swimmers will take away from watching you swim?
GC: When I was younger, I would get so anxious to the point where it would affect my races. As I’ve gotten older, I always try to remind myself that I’ve trained hard and that I know exactly what I have to do to have a good race. I carry that quiet confidence with me, and I hope younger swimmers can recognize that. I hope they realize that they don’t need to put pressure on themselves to swim fast.
AL: Who have you looked up to, athlete or nonathlete, for inspiration and motivation?
GC: I’ve never been a person who could watch professional swimming for inspiration — it always makes me so nervous! However, for academic motivation, I always remember my high school molecular biology and chemistry teacher. I enjoyed her classes so much that I decided to major in biochemistry just like she did!
AL: Describe the ideal rest day: no external obligations, just 24 hours to yourself the way you would to spend it.
GC: It’s been so long since I’ve had a day completely to myself where I could crochet while watching movies, so I think I’d spend a full day doing that!
AL: What is your favorite class that you’ve taken at Swarthmore?
GC: Although it’s not a class, I’ve really enjoyed doing research in the biology department!
AL: What is the last song you’ve listened to?
GC: “Days Like This” by Van Morrison.
