Family, former coach excited for Metamora grad’s Olympic chances this weekend

METAMORA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — It could be an exciting weekend for the central Illinois swimming community and for a family from Germantown Hills.

Metamora grad Anna Peplowski could be named to the U.S. Olympic swimming team on Sunday. And her family is counting down the hours to the announcement of the team.

The Peplowski family was in Indianapolis this week when Anna finished fifth in the 200 freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Typically, a top-six finish in the event earns swimmers a spot on the Olympic team with the fifth-and-sixth place finishers invited as alternates for a relay team.

“The experience was great,” Anna’s sister Ava said about the Olympic Trials. “I loved seeing all the fast swimmers swim, especially seeing my sister make top five. It was such a fun experience to see my family so excited and get to see her even more excited. My parents are so excited. It’s so cool that maybe we get to go to Paris.”

The summer Olympics are in Paris from July 26-August 11.

Peplowski was a state champ at Metamora and is a Big Ten champion swimmer at Indiana now.

“For me, this is a once in a lifetime chance to possibly coach an Olympian,” said Metamora swim coach Shane Morrison who also cheered on Peplowski at the Olympic Trials this week. “A state champion for me, that says a lot her in Illinois. But then seeing her progress as an Indiana Hoosier and keep up with her. She has a legit shot (at the Olympics).”

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