Wichita native to compete in Olympics for mother’s home country

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A Wichita native is headed to the Paris Olympics, swimming the 200 women’s freestyle for her mother’s home country of Laos.

It is the realization of a distant childhood goal for Ariana Dirkzwager, who now swims for Georgia Tech.

Dirkzwager has always had roots in Laos. Her mom’s side of the family is from the country.
According to her, their involvement helped make competitive swimming a reality for her.

“Because I’m going (it’s like my family is) also going,” said Dirkzwager. “We’re all connected as one.”

Dirkzwager said making it to the Olympics is a group achievement.

“The Laos community in Wichita is really big for me; I kinda grew up with my mom’s side, my aunts taking care of me,” said Dirkzwager. “They’re all immigrants, they all came from Laos, so the language, the culture, the food is all relatively the same.”

With her parents both working long hours, it was often her Laotian aunt who picked her and her sister Astrid up and dropped them off from practice and meets at Wichita Swim Club and Wichita East High School.

“For the family, we’re all incredibly proud for her to represent her heritage,” said Dirkzwager’s dad, Albert Dirkzwager. “She’s swum for Laos a couple of times now.”

Dirkzwager has already represented Laos in the Southeast Asian Games and World Aquatics Championships.

“Those two swim meets, like international swim meets, are something that I honestly never thought that I’d be able to do,” said Dirkzwager.

Her parents said she’s worked hard to get here.

“She’s well prepared,” said Dirkzwager’s mom Koko Dirkzwager.

Dirkzwager’s parents said a host of their friends and family members are planning on heading to Paris to watch her compete in the Olympics.

Dirkzwager said no matter what happens, she’s trying to focus less on making her best swim time and more on enjoying the moment.

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