Kennesaw Businesswoman Wins National Swimming Competition

Kennesaw swimmer and owner Malena Hankins recently won the 2011 U.S. Masters Swimming 25K National Championships, clocking in with a time of 6 hours and 43 minutes.

Hankins swam on behalf of the March of Dimes and competed on June 18 at the Morse Reservoir in Indiana. Sixty-seven swimmers participated in the solo 25k, while 200 other swimmers competed in the 25k relay.

A Strict Training Regiment

Hankins, who has been swimming competitively since she was 9-years-old, started training for the event after competing in the U.S Masters Swimming Short Course Nationals in Mesa, Az.

“Moving from the pool to the lake for open water is the equivalent of a sprint runner converting their body into a marathon runner in six weeks. It was tough,” she said.

Hankins said much of the preparation involved training with her husband, John.

“He was my kayaker and spotter to keep me on course. He was my eyes so that I did not constantly have to lift my head to see where I was going. The more you have to look up while you are swimming, the more drag you create on your body, and it kills your lower back and slows your momentum.”

Hankins focused meticulously on every detail in preparation for the event, from the type of suit she wore to every aspect of her nutrition.

“We really had to work hard on nailing down the exact amounts of nutrition that I would take while on course and when I would have it,” she said.

Race Day

The race was scheduled to start at 7 a.m. but started two hours late due to a rain delay.

“The challenge the delay caused is in preparing your body physically with enough but not too much nutrition and also preparing mentally," said Hankins.

“The lake current was unstable throughout the day,” she said. “Sometimes, the current was in your face and then at the same spot on the next lap it would be at your side pushing you off course. The weather at the end was pretty rough too because there was a storm front moving in that created 1 to 2-foot waves.”

Hankins said she expended the energy of about 30,250 arm strokes to complete the race.

Hankins accomplished her nutritional intake by rolling over on her back and continuing to swim the backstroke while her kayaker handed her a mixture of high energy drinks balanced with electrolyte gummy chews.

She was not allowed to touch the boat at any time during the race.

She attributes part of her victory to her 75 strokes-per-minute pace with the exception of a 1.5 mile sprint at the end of the race, which she says “sealed the deal.”  

Mom, Swimmer and Business Owner

Hankins swam for Ecuador throughout her youth and college years and swam competitively for Georgia Tech. Before having her second child, she made the decision to return to competitive swimming. In February 2010, she competed at Georgia Tech and qualified for the World Masters Competition in Sweden.

Hankins said she plans on competing in the USMS Long Course Nationals at Auburn University in August. She also plans on swimming in Riccione, Italy next summer at the World Competition and wants to continue with open water swims. Among her goals are the Manhattan Marathon Swim, the Catalina Island Crossing, the English Channel, and the Straits of Gibraltar.

Hankins said she strives to accomplish such goals “as a personal challenge and so that my kids see the drive and determination that it takes to accomplish your goals.”

As the co-owner of Aqua-Tots Swim Schools in Kennesaw and Woodstock, along with husband John, Hankins said she has a passion for swimming and the health and well-being of children.

"My hope is that what I do when I swim, when I teach swimming, and when I race can be a light of hope in our world,” she said.

Donations to the March of Dimes are still being accepted on behalf of Hankins' championship swim. You can donate online here.

To learn more about Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, you can visit their website and Facebook page.