University of Tennessee Athletics
Making Waves with Ed Walsh
October 05, 2009 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 5, 2009
BY DREW RUTHERFORD
UTsports.com
This is the second of an eight-part series highlighting the 2009-10 Tennessee swimming and diving newcomers. In this edition of "Making Waves," freshman freestyle sprinter Ed Walsh is featured.
For college freshmen, transitioning to a new setting is a challenge. It's even more challenging when traveling across four time zones. Tennessee freshman swimmer Ed Walsh is doing just that.
Walsh came to The Hill from London as one of the fastest sprinters in England. His transition to the Southeast has been eventful and he has learned a lot during his eight weeks in the U.S.
"Everything is starting to work," Walsh said. "I am dealing with the time difference, I am getting into our training and I am starting to fit in."
What was your first impression of UT?
"It really struck me as a friendly place. Everyone was coming up to me to say hello and asking me about living in England. I really liked how big the campus was, as well. Our universities at home are really small."
What are the differences between the facilities you trained at in England and the facilities at UT?
"The facilities here are state-of-the-art. These are the best facilities I've ever seen. Back home we have two swimming pools to train in and at UT we have three. This campus is pretty amazing."
What cultural differences did you encounter in your transition?
"The biggest difference was how in America you drive on the opposite side of the road. When I cross the road I have to check four or five times before I cross or else I will get run over. My natural instinct is to look the opposite way from Americans because in London the cars come from the other way. It has been quite a challenge for me. A car ran over my foot the second week I was here. I had a car run over my foot. I was OK, my foot and my toes hurt but I was OK. The guys still give me a hard time about that."
There are probably a lot of foods in England that you miss and most likely some here that have had an impression on you, as well. As far as cuisine goes, what do you miss and what American food has interested you?
"Back home we are used to having a lot of fish and chips and every Sunday we have a roast dinner. It's a tradition for English people to have a roast dinner on Sundays and we have a lot of tea. But here there are a lot of take-out places. There aren't as many take-out places at home but here at Tennessee we have `The Strip,' which has every take-out place there is. Also, when we played Florida in football, we ate gator. I had never had gator before and that was quite an experience. I loved it. It was very good. I also like the biscuits and how you put gravy on everything here."
It's a rite of passage for a Tennessee swimmer to earn your spot in the locker room. Have you earned your spot yet?
"I am not in the locker room, yet. I have had two challenges, though. Most of them have been endurance challenges and those have been difficult for me as a sprinter. One of mine was a sit-up test--how many sit ups I could do in 90 seconds. I lost but with a bit more training I think I could keep up though."
Have you swum in the river, yet?
"I have. It was a great experience. I could never do that at home. If people back home found out I was swimming in a river they would be amazed. There have been a lot of once in a lifetime opportunities for me here at Tennessee and that is one of them."
Players Mentioned
