Athlete of the Week: Dalton Herendeen

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – One of the best swimmers in the nation is hard at work every day in the University of Indianapolis (UIndy) pool. He holds a record in the 100 meter and 200 meter breaststroke.

Under the water, there is something that sets the Greyhound senior, Dalton Herendeen, apart from his opponents. Dalton is an amputee.

“There’s something about when I hit that water. Where I just felt free, felt normal bodied,” said Herendeen.

He was born with a blood clot in his left leg and his parents choose to amputate below the knee to ensure their son’s survival.

“I was on crutches a lot and wheelchairs through surgeries. So, when kids were out in recess, I was there sitting there watching through the window,” added Herendeen.

After trying soccer and football growing up, swimming stuck.  When he arrived on the UIndy campus, he had to change a lot with his stroke.

“Breaststroke is a symmetrical stroke with the legs, and he’s got one leg that’s only half of a leg. So, we’ve really had to do some upper body work to make sure he’s getting as much kick out of the leg as we possibly can,” said head swim coach Greg Kinkead.

Then in 2012, he had the experience of a lifetime, making the Paralympic games in London.  But leaving without a medal has given him unfinished business in Rio.

“Now, I’m here to medal,” said Herendeen. “That’s the one thing left in my career to do, and that’s medal.,That’s the one thing I think about when I’m training, eating (and) sleeping. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, that’s what I’m thinking about.”