To most people at the University, Cara Lane is just another nameless face.Not many know that she's one of Virginia's best female athletes of all time.
In August, Lane was named to the ACC 50th anniversary top 50 women's swim team, one of the many sports for which the ACC created such honorary teams.
"When something comes along that deals with all other athletes and not just swimmers, its a huge honor," Lane said.
Virginia coach Mark Bernardino did not shy away from praising the star swimmer.
"She is obviously one of U.Va's female greatest athletes of all time," Bernardino said. "She's a two-time NCAA champion, an all-American in multiple events, two gold medals at the World University Games, and national acclaim as well."
Even with these accolades, Lane is not one to brag.
"In some ways I wish there was a little more of an arrogance, more of a confidence about herself," Bernardino said. "She's very low key, very humble about her accomplishments."
Lane began swimming at age 6 for a summer league team in Charlotte, N.C.
"It was the thing to do in my neighborhood," she said. I started swimming competitive, year round, when I was 8
and I haven't stopped since."
Coming out of high school, Lane was recruited by two top-10 schools -- Florida and Georgia -- but chose Virginia instead.
"I chose U.Va. because of the academics," Lane said. "I knew that I wouldn't be swimming for the rest of my life."
"It was exciting for us to get a recruit of [her] magnitude," Bernardino said.
Since her arrival, Lane has made her presence known. Lane currently holds the ACC and Virginia records for the 500, 1,000 and mile freestyle.
On a team of very successful swimmers, everyone has a distinguishing characteristic, and Lane's is her competitive nature.
"She hates to lose, which is a magnificent trait for all athletes to have," Bernardino said.
Teammate and roommate Laura Lipskis agrees, noting Lane's dedication.
"Cara is one of the hardest workers I've ever trained with," Lipskis said. "She gives her all every practice even through sickness and injury."
As a distance freestyler, Lane has faced injuries throughout her career. Before Olympic trials after her first year she had surgery for "pitcher's elbow" a common condition afflicting baseball pitchers.
"The bone they removed was about the size of a peach pit, if you can imagine that -- it was pretty painful," Lane said. After the surgery, she was kept out of the pool for six weeks, but jumped back into competition when she healed.
In her academic life, Lane is working to receive her master's degree in special education. She would like to work with disabled children in a resource room after graduation.
"I love kids and I hope I can help them out, I feel like I can," she said.
Lipskis cited Lane's realism, recognizing swimming isn't the only important aspect of her life.
"Even though swimming is such a big part of [Lane's] life, and she has been so successful in it, she recognizes that it isn't everything," she said.
And with the end of her season approaching, Lane is forced to look ahead.
"I think she has two choices, she can retire or it is her option to continue to train for the Olympic trials," Bernardino said. "If she chooses to go to the trials. She will be a finalist there and make a run at a birth on the Olympic team in one of the distance events."
Even with an uncertain future, Lane isn't forgetting to live in the present.
"Right now I am just taking it day by day," she said.
Read More
Football lands three additional transfers
By Peter Kriebel | YesterdayOne common trait that stands out with this most recent batch of transfers is size.
Men’s basketball suffers road drubbing versus California
By Emory Huffman | YesterdayVirginia submitted another rudderless performance.
