Champion swimmer heading to Olympic Trials

This photo was taken after Jenna's 52:99 personal best in 100 fly at the recent SEC Championships.

Jenna Bridges, a former Chase Trojan swim team champion and a champion swimmer at Louisiana State University (LSU) recently competed in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Swim and Dive Championship in Auburn, Ala. Her parents, Jeff and Crystal Bridges were among those attending the SEC competition.

She is now focusing on training for her next big meet, the Olympic Trials this June in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Jenna talked about this season and the challenges she faced.

"This season challenged me mentally, physically and emotionally, but I'm thankful I had the amazing support system of my family, coaches and teammates," said Jenna. "They constantly reminded me to hold onto my faith and to remember what I'm capable of. It certainly wasn't the result I wanted going into the season, but there was a reason for the obstacles and I know I'll be better for it in the end."

Jenna is looking forward to continuing to get healthy going into Olympic trials.

"We could not be more proud of Jenna," Crystal Bridges said of their daughter.

Jenna was diagnosed with Covid right after returning to LSU this past fall and continued to experience more sickness.

On Nov. 11 Jeanna was diagnosed with Mononucleosis. She missed almost all her swim meets and only just raced again on January 26 for the first time since her diagnosis.

"She went into SEC with the knowledge that she would have an uphill battle to even make a final swim," Crystal said. "In true Jenna fashion she fought like a Tiger and in her first event the 500 free she went from being ranked 47th to coming in at 15th and dropping over 9 seconds and swimming in the B final. It was miraculous."

The following day in the 100 Fly, Crystal said it was going to be even more of a challenge as she was ranked 60th and got to 18th place in preliminaries with a time of 52:99 which was a personal best for her even faster than last year's 100 fly.

She swam in the C final that night and ended up 23rd with a slight time increase.

"But what a shock to us all," Crystal continued.

Then she swam the 200 fly. She ranked 32nd and this was because she swam this event on January 27 and the following weekend at University of Tennessee after those back to back meets, she dropped 10 seconds to get her to a 2:00.21 which she knew would make it incredibly hard to get back to her championship time from last year.

She did make the C final and drop 1:61 seconds overall which gave her a 1:58.60.

"Not the result she was hoping for but what an accomplishment when she is only three months from a serious case of mono, and a very reduced training schedule."

Crystal Bridges said she selected this verse of scripture from the Bible for Jenna's poster for the swim team room.

"It was perfect for how the 2024 SEC Swim and Dive Championships went for our daughter. 2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."