Ariana Dirkzwager: Difference between revisions

Dirkzwager was born on February 6, 2004, in [[Wichita, Kansas]].<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldaquatics.com/athletes/1338943/ariana-southa-dirkzwager/profile|publisher=[[World Aquatics]]|title=Ariana Southa Dirkzwager}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://archive.ph/1AYeO|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=[[archive.ph]]|title=‘Once in a lifetime’: Wichita native Ariana Dirkzwager will swim in Paris Olympics |author=Eldridge, Taylor|date=July 9, 2024}}</ref> She is of Laotian descent, with her mother being from there.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.11alive.com/article/sports/olympics/georgia-tech-ariana-dirkzwager-competing-for-laos-in-paris/85-cb6eeabf-b742-445d-9c23-6b7ca3509abb|publisher=[[WXIA-TV]]|title=Georgia Tech swim sophomore heading to Paris for Olympics after qualifying for Laos team|author=Winters, Akilah; Preheim, Cheryl|date=July 5, 2024}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksn.com/sports/local-sports/wichita-native-to-compete-in-olympics-for-mothers-home-country/|publisher=[[KSNW]]|title=Wichita native to compete in Olympics for mother’s home country |date=July 8, 2024|author=Taher, Zena}}</ref> Her sister, Astrid, also is a [[Swimming (sport)|swimmer]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://archive.ph/Lt4Jk|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=[[archive.ph]]|title=Out of the shadow: Wichita’s Ariana Dirkzwager cements swim legacy with Kansas titles |date=May 23, 2022|author=Eldrigde, Taylor}}</ref> She swam at an early age with the Wichita Swim Club and continued to swim competitively at [[Wichita East High School]], spending four years on the varsity and being [[Captain (sports)|captain]] as a [[Senior (education)|senior]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/wichita-swim-clubs-ariana-dirkzwager-set-to-join-sister-at-georgia-tech-in-2022/|website=[[Swimming World]]|title=Wichita Swim Club’s Ariana Dirkzwager Set to Join Sister at Georgia Tech in 2022|author=Brandes, Chandler|date=April 3, 2021}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://ramblinwreck.com/roster/ariana-dirkzwager/|publisher=[[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]]|title=Ariana Dirkzwager}}</ref> She swam for a time with her sister at Wichita East and won seven state championships, including four individual gold medals.<ref>{{Cite news|urlname=https:"auto"//archive.ph/1AYeO|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=[[archive.ph]]|title=‘Once in a lifetime’: Wichita native Ariana Dirkzwager will swim in Paris Olympics |author=Eldridge, Taylor|date=July 9, 2024}}</ref> She set a city league record in the 100-yard freestyle event, which still stood as of 2024, and was named an [[All-American]] in the 200 freestyle.<ref>{{Cite news|urlname=https:"auto"//archive.ph/1AYeO|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=[[archive.ph]]|title=‘Once in a lifetime’: Wichita native Ariana Dirkzwager will swim in Paris Olympics |author=Eldridge, Taylor|date=July 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto1"//ramblinwreck.com/roster/ariana-dirkzwager/|publisher=[[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]]|title=Ariana Dirkzwager}}</ref>

As a [[Junior (education year)|junior]] at Wichita East, Dirkzwager announced her commitment to compete collegiately for the [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets swimming and diving|Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]], joining her sister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/ariana-dirkzwager-joins-sister-astrid-at-georgia-tech-with-verbal-for-2022/|website=[[SwimSwam]]|title=Ariana Dirkzwager Joins Sister Astrid at Georgia Tech with Verbal for 2022|author=Ortegon, Karl|date=March 30, 2021}}</ref> At Georgia Tech, she [[Academic major|majored]] in business administration.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto1"//ramblinwreck.com/roster/ariana-dirkzwager/|publisher=[[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]]|title=Ariana Dirkzwager}}</ref> She is coached by Olympic gold medalist [[Courtney Shealy]] with the Yellow Jackets.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto2"//www.11alive.com/article/sports/olympics/georgia-tech-ariana-dirkzwager-competing-for-laos-in-paris/85-cb6eeabf-b742-445d-9c23-6b7ca3509abb|publisher=[[WXIA-TV]]|title=Georgia Tech swim sophomore heading to Paris for Olympics after qualifying for Laos team|author=Winters, Akilah; Preheim, Cheryl|date=July 5, 2024}}</ref>

In 2023, Dirkzwager began competing internationally while representing Laos.<ref>{{Cite news|urlname=https:"auto"//archive.ph/1AYeO|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=[[archive.ph]]|title=‘Once in a lifetime’: Wichita native Ariana Dirkzwager will swim in Paris Olympics |author=Eldridge, Taylor|date=July 9, 2024}}</ref> She participated at the [[2023 SEA Games]] in four events and set a national record in the 200m freestyle event.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto4"//www.worldaquatics.com/athletes/1338943/ariana-southa-dirkzwager/profile|publisher=[[World Aquatics]]|title=Ariana Southa Dirkzwager}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|urlname=https:"auto"//archive.ph/1AYeO|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=[[archive.ph]]|title=‘Once in a lifetime’: Wichita native Ariana Dirkzwager will swim in Paris Olympics |author=Eldridge, Taylor|date=July 9, 2024}}</ref> Later, she competed for Laos at the [[2024 World Aquatics Championships]] in the 100m freestyle and 200m backstroke.<ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto4"//www.worldaquatics.com/athletes/1338943/ariana-southa-dirkzwager/profile|publisher=[[World Aquatics]]|title=Ariana Southa Dirkzwager}}</ref> In July 2024, she was selected to compete for Laos at the [[2024 Summer Olympics]] in [[Paris]], receiving a universality spot.<ref>{{Cite news|urlname=https:"auto"//archive.ph/1AYeO|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=[[archive.ph]]|title=‘Once in a lifetime’: Wichita native Ariana Dirkzwager will swim in Paris Olympics |author=Eldridge, Taylor|date=July 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|urlname=https:"auto3"//www.ksn.com/sports/local-sports/wichita-native-to-compete-in-olympics-for-mothers-home-country/|publisher=[[KSNW]]|title=Wichita native to compete in Olympics for mother’s home country |date=July 8, 2024|author=Taher, Zena}}</ref>