Swimming has always come naturally to Kristen Vanek.

“My mother says that I came out of her womb swimming,” Vanek said.

Now a senior on the ISU women’s swimming team, she is using that kind of experience to her advantage.

Vanek finished seventh in the 1,650 freestyle, 10th in the 500 freestyle and 14th in the 200 freestyle at last year’s Big 12 Championships and was also named the most improved swimmer at Iowa State’s year-end banquet.

“Some people are good at some things and others are good at other things,” Vanek said. “I’m just glad that God blessed me with the talent and that I haven’t had any major injuries.”

Vanek may have gained some of that talent from her gene pool.

She has an older brother who swam so it was only a matter of time before she picked up the sport. Vanek’s dad also played basketball in college so athleticism runs in the family.

And when she couldn’t use family members as an influence to get into the sport, she used her high school and club coach Corky King.

“I just had a special bond with him,” Vanek said. “He taught me heart.”

Another influence was fellow swimmer Bill Gillaspe, her brother’s high school friend, who went to the University of Iowa.

“He was everything you want in a athlete. He was determined, worked hard and won at state,” Vanek said. “I really looked up to him.”

Vanek swam all during high school, but it was during her sophomore year when she really broke out. She finished in fourth place at state in the 100-yard freestyle and was part of the All-American 200-yard freestyle team.

She never really matched the success of that special year during high school.

“I grew during those losing years. Your true colors come out when you don’t meet your expectations,” she said.

Her early success was recognized by recruiters.

Vanek was admittedly overwhelmed with the attention.

She went on requiting visits to Iowa, Iowa State, Evansville and Truman State.

The decision came down to Truman State and Iowa State, which were complete opposites.

Vanek said she would’ve been a stud at Truman State and it would have been like high school all over again. At Iowa State she would just be an average swimmer.

She ultimately picked Truman State, but since she hadn’t decided on a major yet, her parents wanted her to go to Iowa State.

“They figured I would have more academic opportunities here,” Vanek said.

“I was mad at first, but everything worked out and I wouldn’t change anything.”

Although recruited to compete as a sprint freestyler, ISU women’s swimming coach Duane Sorenson moved her to distance freestyle.

“She just didn’t have the muscle fiber in her body so I moved her,” Sorenson said.

“It was a major change because of the extra commitment and training but I’m very pleased with how she adapted.”

Being a senior means Vanek will have more responsibilities.

“The younger girls are watching me on good and bad days,” Vanek said. “I just hope they are following my example on the good days.”

One of Vanek’s goals this year is to be a good team leader. She also wants to accomplish big things in the pool.

“I want to finish in the top eight at the Big 12 championships and finish in the top eight in one other event,” she said.

“Kristen puts high expectations on herself,” Sorenson said.

Sorenson said Vanek brings a lot to the table.

“She has a tremendous work ethic, is a great friend to her teammates, [is] upbeat and has a heart of gold,” Sorenson said.

Vanek has made numerous all-academic teams while at Iowa State, including being named to the Verizon Academic All-America District VII first team and the academic all-Big 12 first team.

“You just have to learn time management,” she said. “You learn early during a sport that you don’t have to read every word of every chapter.”

“I don’t really feel like I’m missing anything,” she said. “Lots of people would kill to be an college athlete.”