Work ethic, famous training partner has helped Arizona's Hannah Cox push her limit

UA sophomore Hannah Cox has always taken a different approach to swimming.

Her focus is on the little things, the things she can control. Like going hard in practice. Every. Single. Day.

“Consistently showing up and working hard fuels me,” said Cox, who will compete in this week’s Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Washington. “Coming away from practice makes me feel accomplished. Days where I don’t do my best, that’s hard. Enjoying the day in and day out work sets me up well for life outside of swimming and for meets.”

While most swimmers exude confidence and know exactly where they want swimming to take them, Cox just wants to be the best version of herself.

Growing up in a small town in Vermont, she stated swimming in summers and in clubs during middle school. She was good, but she had no idea she could look at colleges like Arizona.

“I didn’t know what I was capable of,” Cox said. “The love for the sport was driving me and going to practice and working on my stroke. Not being at a certain place at a certain time. It was not knowing.

“I’ve always have to work on my confidence level. Yes, it’s a work in progress. Believing where I stand, what goals I have … I’m still coming to terms with it now that I’ve found my place at Arizona. That’s what I’m working on. I’m a lot better at focusing on college swimming and those goals. Working towards being the best athlete I can be and seeing where that takes me. And, yes, (that includes) Olympics and professional swimming. We’ll see where it takes me.”

Focusing on what’s right in front of her has definitely served her well. This season she has 15 victories in five events. In October, she was part of the Pac-12 All-Star team that beat the USA National Team in the College Swimming Challenge. She set a school record in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:32.24. The previous mark (9:33.17) was held by Trina Jackson in 1988.

She’s won the 1,000 free seven times this season. She also swims other long distances including the 500 free, the 200 free and the 400 individual medley, among others.

“We’ve yet to see an overall best time from her; we’re not even close yet,” UA coach Augie Busch said of Cox’s potential.

“I think what we have learned about Hannah is that she needs to train hard right until the meet. She responds well. She feels light and fast.”

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Cox has been helped by swimming against Olympian Leah Smith. Smith won a gold medal in the 4x200-meter relay and a bronze in the 400 freestyle at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She was coached by Busch and Cory Chitwood at the University of Virginia. Smith followed Chitwood to UA and while she is training with him for professional meets, she is also serving as a volunteer coach.

Smith is considered one of the best women’s long distance swimmers in the world. In the United States, she is second only to Katie Ledecky.

“Any time you can race against someone who is the best in the world every day, that can do absolute wonders for your confidence,” Chitwood said. “They push each other and the team. They are happy to see the other doing well. Everyone wants the best for each other. Being in this daily, this culture and environment is unique to this team and this pool deck.

“I think Hannah feels like she’s rejuvenated. She now knows what type of talent she is and the goals that are possible. Now it’s the fun part: showcasing everything she has worked for this season.”

Smith typically beats Cox in practice, though the Wildcats standout is getting closer and closer.

Coming into this year at UA, Smith knew Cox from afar. She competed against her at Smith’s first Olympic Trials in 2012. Now, Smith appreciates Cox’s work ethic up close.

“She challenges me every day,” said Smith, who is competing in the USA Pro Series meet in Atlanta March 1-4 at Georgia Tech. “For me and Hannah it’s exciting to have each other to race against. I feel like in college I tried to keep up with the boys all four years. For Hannah, I think it’s a confidence thing. Knowing she gets to race against a nationally-ranked swimmer in practice. ‘If I can keep up with this person in practice and I go to a big meet, I can, too.’”

Big meets are where Cox shines. At last year’s NCAA Championships, she swam a personal best (16:13.62) in the 1,650 free. She earned her place in this year’s NCAA meet at the Texas Invitational, posting a second-place finish in the 500 free with a time of 4:39.49.

“I think that reveals a lot about a person,” said Smith.

“It’s truly special when someone can get up and go in big meets. That is when the team needs it the most. She wants to contribute and it’s awesome she can throw down at those big meets and it bodes well for her future.”