Dominika Kopcik

Personal History

Being a proud BC and more in depth- Surrey resident I started my career off training with the PacificSport Aquasonics, I began synchronized swimming in grade three, with my passion for dance and love of swimming it gave me a natural transition into synchro. Making my first national team at the age of 15,I had my sights set on Beijing 2008. With that dream in mind I never let anything get in the way. After the year I made my first national team My coach Susan Kemper encouraged me to go onto the national team tryouts in Fall 2004 and entering into all categories, even if it was just for the experience, she thought I was ready and strong enough to make my impression. So we went on with the process and to everyone's surprise I made it!! I still to day don't know how at the time but I did it with the help and support of My only coach Susan and as happy as we were the thought part was now to come, leaving everyone including her so go alone and face montreal and the new coaches and team mates alone. The year went by great as so did the 2005 Fina Aquatic World Championships In Montreal. Being more satisfied and pleased than ever I now got to return Home! To my proper coach, home training center and well just home. Spending the next year with everything back to normal, it had come time again for tryouts.As well that year after graduating from high school in 2006, I decided to study Business Administration at the American Institute University full time while training.

So Once again re-assuring my spot on the team I had left home and this time for good, until the olympics I was hoping at least, and was right. I have stayed and lived in montreal since May 2006 swimming on the National A team- Which then became my dream the National Olympic Team and finally getting to the 2008 Olympics. The olympics were a dream come true, going in 6th and coming out 4th, with incredible memorable routines, a true joyfull great experience I would not have changed one simple aspect of it.It was everything I had dreamed about and wished for. With my mommy by my side and my mini fan club cheering me on, that was the peek of my career as it should be. My road of excellence was layed out before me, starting as a little brat splashing around in Surrey, then taken under the wind of My one true coach, Susan Kemper who had taught me and led me to the next drop off point the National Training center and watching me finish my dreams at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

After reaching my ultimate goal and realizing my dreams, I felt I was ready to move on with my life satisfied and owing that feeling of accomplishment. I retired with my last time in the water being the finals Free team swim at The Beijing Olympics, having that as my final memory and feeling of joy, tears, excitement and being so proud of all of us for everything we had accomplished. I then went to Poland to revisit long missed family with my sister and mother in September 2008. Returning home to start a business and finish school. Then on July 10th 2009 I got married to my Fiance of 3 years, and now living a complete opposite life, working and no traveling and no team meetings,which I miss at times but the memories made from the past are strong enough to re-assure my choices. And well now I have my younger sister overruling my records made, she is now 16 and training at the national team center, so no worries the Kopcik name will keep its legacy going for a few more years and she can be on the lookout for at the next olympics!

Results

In 2004 I had my first taste of international competition placing 6th in the Team competition at the World Junior Championships in Moscow.The next year I was able to earn a spot on the 12- person National Senior A Team for the 2005 FINA World Championships held in Montreal, where Canada placed 5th in the Team category, and 4th in the Combo category. Travelling to Yokohama, Japan for the World Cup in 2006, the National Team earned a 6th place Team ranking and 4th place for their Combo performance. On the national scene I have most competed at the 2006 Canadian Championships in Winnipeg, where I won two gold medals for Junior Duet and her Solo (routine) performance. As well I had also won a silver medal for Figures at the same competition .Leaving my last canadian championships on a memorable high note. Now for national and international performances in 2006, I was selected as a recipient of the HBC Athlete Achievement Award, meaning a lot to me at the time and proving to me just how much I had accomplished, with only more to come. The Big deal! 2008- Making the team and going to the 2008 Olympic Games In Beijing China- Finishing stronger than ever with a solid 4th Place in both Tech and Free Routine.

My Determination

“You can accomplish anything you set your mind to, there are no goals too big.”- Something I'd always fall back on and try to remember when everything got foggy and out of line, it some how always made me jump back onto the right path and stop messing around to indeed attain my dreams.