Badgering: Beata Nelson
October 25, 2017 | Women's Swimming & Diving, Swimming & Diving, Andy Baggot, Varsity Magazine
Poised for a breakout season, sophomore swimmer shares her most inspiring teammate and a random skill she’d like to have
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Ask Wisconsin men's and women's swimming coach Whitney Hite about breakout performers in 2017-18 and one of the first names out of his mouth is sophomore Beata Nelson. Hampered by illness and inconsistency as a freshman, the versatile Nelson turned in a career-best and pool-record time in the 200 backstroke and added a win in the 200 individual medley during a dual meet vs. Georgia last week. Nelson, the former Verona, Wisconsin, phenom, took a moment recently to talk about her most inspiring teammate, the random skill she'd like to have and a book she'd recommend:
What's the key to your happiness as a UW student-athlete?
"It's finding a balance. It's not one component that really does it for me. It's just finding a way to keep everything compartmentalized and prioritized and making sure I find time to get a little time to myself even though I don't really have it."
What's the hardest lesson you learned as a freshman at UW?
"My freshman year was a challenging one to say the least. I definitely learned that time management is a key and that prioritizing sleep is really, really important."
Two-time winner Beata Nelson among the standouts for Badgers on opening day. OnWisconsin ?? RECAP
— Wisconsin Swimming (@BadgerSwimDive) Oct. 13, 2017
Is there a teammate who inspires you? If so, how?
"All of my teammates inspire me, but the one person that's really been somebody that I've gone to in any situation is Emmy Sehmann. She's a junior. She has the same type of mentality as me in swimming and life in general and she's somebody that allows me to express my fears, my anxieties and to talk through them and find a way to be successful while having those feelings. She's a very, very hard worker and will do anything to reach her goals. That's what I want to do."
Is there a book you've read outside of classwork you'd recommend?
"Every year our coaches make us read a book when we take our trip to Hawaii to train. We read the book 'The Energy Bus.' It was really interesting. It has a lot of life lessons in it. It puts into perspective how to see life in a different way."
What's the trait you value most in a teammate?
"Determination, passion and drive are important, but I'd say honesty."
If you could learn one random skill, what would it be?
"I've always wanted to know how to juggle. It seems kind of goofy, but I've tried for years to learn and I never have."
What's your go-to place in Madison?
"I love everything about Madison. I can't pick just one."
What's your favorite item of memorabilia?
"My teddy bear from when I was little. My mom had to put it in a box away from me for a while because I would drag it with me everywhere. It's beaten up and been through everything with me."
What was your first job with a paycheck?
"Either babysitting, which is more casual, or being a lifeguard in the summer at the pool I grew up at (Ridgewood)."
What's your major and why did you choose it?
"I'm currently undecided, but I'm leaning towards a psychology major. If I do decide to do psych, I've worked with sports psychologists in the past and they're people who I think make a huge difference. I'm super passionate about changing the lives of people and interacting with them as best I can."
What's the best money you ever spent?
"Every year I always save up some money to give presents and things back to people who have made a difference in my life."
Players Mentioned
