Ronald J. Dubois Sr.
May 19, 2008
Edna Besson
May 21, 2008
Monique Lefort has spent nearly her entire life in the water.
She started swimming lessons at age two, competitive swimming at age four on the Cut Off Youth Center Hurricanes summer league team and joined the Bayou Barracudas swim team at age eight.
All that time spent in the deep end has paid off.
She has competed in state and national level competitions, is a two-time All-American swimmer and has been in the Top 16 in the nation in the butterfly event.
At Vandebilt, she won seven individual state championships, led the girls’ team to four consecutive Class 4A titles and holds six school records and one Class 4A record.
This fall, she will be swimming at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where she accepted a full scholarship.
SportsNet caught up with the 18-year-old at the Ellendale Country Club pool to discuss past and future accomplishments.
SportsNet: Did you think you would achieve so much in swimming?
Monique Lefort: Never. It’s taken me so far actually. I’ve been Top 16 in the nation, seven-time state champ in the 100-meter breaststroke. I won every year since age 10, except in 2006 because I had an elbow injury.
SN: Where have you traveled for national tournaments?
ML: I’ve pretty much been everywhere in the country. I’ve been to San Francisco that where I got the top – 16 times. I’ve been to Oklahoma, Ohio, Florida, and North Carolina. Pretty much around the country.
SN: When did you begin swimming at Vandebilt?
ML: I started my ninth grade year because my eighth grade year, I was ineligible because I lived out of district. So I was the swim team manager that year.
SN: How many state championships did you win at Vandebilt?
ML: I was three-time state champion in the 100-meter breaststroke (2005-07) and four-time champion in the 100-meter butterfly (2004-07). I’ve gotten All-American times twice in 100-meter butterfly (2006-07) and once in the 100-meter breaststroke (2006).
SN: What were your fastest times?
ML: In the butterfly, my fastest time was 56:81. In the breaststroke, my best time was 1:05:56.
SN: How did you choose to attend Duquesne University?
ML: I got a letter in the mail, filled out the form, and whenever the calling period allowed them to contact me, they called. I liked what they told me, so they asked if I would go up there on a visit. I fell in love with the place.
SN: What did you like about Duquesne?
ML: The campus was clean; it’s just so pretty up there. I liked their program. I liked what they had to offer. The school is really strong in business, and I think that’s what I’m leaning toward for my education, even though I’m still undecided.
SN: I heard you say you would only stick with swimming through college.
ML: Until college is over, probably not after afterward. Just so I can get a career, start a family, go marry somebody. I won’t say never. I’ll probably do it to stay in shape, recreational swimming. Not competing, but I do like it. Try something new.
SN: Are your parents or siblings swimmers also?
ML: I have one sister, Elise. She turns 21 in July. She never really got into sports though. I’m the athlete child.
SN: You played any other sports?
ML: I tried almost everything on the side. I have tried basketball. I danced for six years. I’ve done a little bit of everything. The dancing was just because.
SN: What kind of dance did you do?
ML: I did tap, jazz, lyrical.
SN: What is lyrical dancing?
ML: It’s the one where they wear those strap shoes and they’re all slow and dainty. I didn’t really like that one; too slow.
SN: What the biggest you have improved on in swimming?
ML: It is everything. My stroke is the best it could be. Right now, I’m focused on technique more than anything, especially in practice, because it’s been sloppy before. I’m trying to work with speed, work with technique and put them together. Just all the little things like strokes, streamline my turns, dives – every little detail that can be a fraction of a second faster.
SN: You left home before to compete in tournaments, but how do you think it will be to be going away for college?
ML: I’m going to miss it, of course. I’m really going away just to try something new. Everybody wants to stay here, but I know the competition in this area. I want to branch out more and compete. See what the outside world has to offer.
