For most swimmers, the clock is the obstacle, but for freshman Evelyn Thomsen, the clock is only a small part of it. When she steps onto the pool deck — cap and goggles in place and a prosthetic leg at her side — she faces a factor few others have to consider.
Thomsen has always enjoyed the water, but her path into competitive swimming took shape after her amputation in 2022. She joined Blaze Sports, an adaptive swim club, where swimming became a sport she could manage independently and continue building strength and confidence in the pool.
“I did adaptive swim club before, and with lots of help from them, I felt like swimming more competitively was what really pushed me along,” Thomsen said.
This past season, Thomsen swam for Midtown’s varsity team. Head coach Ginny Palmich said Thomsen approaches the sport with focus and consistency.
“Evelyn is incredible,” Palmich said. “She’s only a freshman, and I’ve enjoyed getting to watch her improve over the season. She is one of our most locked-in swimmers at practice. She has dropped time at every meet this season.”
For Thomsen, joining the team has been a smooth fit.
“I think being on the team is a great opportunity and everyone is so supportive,” Thomsen said. “I thought it would be really hardcore, but we are all a team and we love each other.”
Her improvement reflects how quickly she has adapted. In just one month, she dropped 6.57 seconds in the 100 Freestyle — an uncommon jump for any swimmer. Adjusting to a prosthetic leg, she said, has become routine.
“[Adapting to the amputation] was pretty big at the time,” Thomsen said. “ But really, I can’t even remember what it was like to have two legs anymore.”
Thomsen also bring reliability to the team. Assistant coach George Kimbrough said her work habit stands out.
“How hard she works is really amazing,” Kimbrough said. “She’s always focused during practice. A lot of times, we’ll have to get kids refocused and make sure that they’re on the intervals, but she’s always taking care of herself, so I don’t really have to worry about her like some of the other ones.”
Her teammates notice the same thing. Freshmen Cole El-Deiry said Thomsen’s consistency makes her a quiet leader.
“It’s really inspiring how she doesn’t care what anyone thinks,” El-Deiry said. “She still swims her heart out and goes super fast.”
Thomsen’s presence on the team highlights what inclusion in school sports can look like. Freshman Emma Striedinger said Thomsen’s success shows that athletes with disabilities can compete and contribute at the same level as everyone else.
“I believe inclusion is important in sports because sports are meant at the school level for students’ enjoyment, and everyone, regardless of their age, size, race, or gender, deserves the pleasure of participating in school sports,” freshman teammate Emma Striedinger said.
As a freshman, Thomsen is already overcoming barriers that would challenge most. Palmich said Thomsen will continue to be a key contributor to the team with her consistency, motivation and hard work.
“Her desire to better herself is something that everyone on the team wants to do at meets,” Palmich said. “She sets the standard for our team even though she is just a freshman, and I’m looking forward to seeing her continue to grow as an athlete on the Midtown team. She is a quiet leader who simply leads by example.”
