Elle Couture '22 Recruiting Profile

“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet” - Aristotle.

What a journey I have been on over the past year!  I would like to thank all the coaches from the great universities who took the time to talk to me along the way.  I proudly announce my verbal commitment to the University of Akron in Ohio.  I have to thank my "momager" for helping me with the seemingly endless searches, interviews, and note taking; and my dad for supporting us through a tough year filled with many challenges.  I need to thank my Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins for all the kind words and encouragement.  And a huge shout out to Coach Lucien for always pushing me to my fullest athletic potential.  I am very excited to begin this new chapter of my life.   GO ZIPS !!

I am vaccinated and ready to roll for my first swim meet in the last 16 months !  Our Coach was able to get our club into a LC M meet in Calgary, I have trained hard, and am ready to show it in the water. 

At my first LCM meet in August 2021 after 16+ months of no competition I posted a Sr. Trials Time of 26.82 in my 50meter Free and during the relay I swam a 26.16 for my leg of the race.   I am looking forward to seeing how much I can show my improvements this final year of club swimming. 

H.W.P.O.  has been stitched on my swim bag since I was 9. This is what I tell myself every time I need to re-focus.   HARD WORK PAYS OFF!  There are no shortcuts....  This is my oath to swimming and my coach.   

My name is Elle Couture and I am 17 turning 18 in November.  I am in grade 12 (Sr. year) at St. Joseph High School in Red Deer, Alberta Canada.  I consider the challenges of the past 20+ months and my successful adaptation to them due to online/in-person classes as well as in pool/zoom workouts many times during the year as my hands on preparation for College life in 2022.   Being back in the water with my coach was a key component of my positive mental outlook, physically I recently was able to swim best times from a push start in all strokes, this was a huge win mentally knowing I am faster & stronger.   

I started club swimming at age 8 and was moved to competitive at age 9 and made my first Championship time LCM at age 9 in 50 Freestyle.  I also started working out doing light weights with my dad who was a certified trainer around the age of 9.  The hours dedicated to my Club team in swimming have helped me academically and molded me into a disciplined student/athlete. I was identified as a Breaststroke at age 13 when I was 5'2" and now am 5' 9" tall at age 16.  I have been able to improve all of my Freestyles and Fly to the point where I have qualified for Jr./Sr. Nationals in Canada in multiple events as well as Canadian World Trials held in Victoria BC in April 2022.   My most memorable highlight to date was at age 14 qualifying for Canadian Olympic Trials in Toronto Ontario, Canada March 2020 100 Breaststroke with an age group time of  1:13.21 LCM.   

I cannot wait to see what the future brings as a College Swimmer but it is important for me to have an extended family feeling with all of my teammates and become a strong group of fierce women swimmers and a lifelong group of friends who can succeed at anything!

Thank you Coach Brian at The University of Akron for helping me find the perfect team.