Getting Paige Madden to ease up on anything she does in life is a little like asking a bee to stop buzzing – which is why University of Virginia swimming and diving head coach Todd DeSorbo and his staff have sometimes resorted to subterfuge.
It was often easier than trying to make Madden taper down before big meets. “We almost had to trick her into resting,” DeSorbo said.
The idea was to get Madden to peak at just the right time. At the NCAA Championships in Greensboro last month, Madden did just that, leading UVA to its first NCAA title. The fourth-year student, set to graduate next month, won three individual races and one relay title, the most of any swimmer at the meet.
But those accomplishments, as impressive as they are, won’t define Madden’s time at UVA.
Madden has brought the same verve she did to the pool to all facets of her life as a student.