Liesl’s swimming credentials speak for themselves. Take a look:

U.S. National Champion
50m free (1): '96 SUM
100m free (2): '99 SPG, '96 SUM

In 2000
Was fifth in 50m free and eighth in 100m free at Olympic Trials ... tied for fourth in 50m free at Spring Nationals.

International Medals
Pan Pacific Championships
1999: 3rd, 50m free; 1st, 400m FR; 1st, 400m MR
World University Games
1997: 3rd, 100m free

Additional Honors/Records: Two-time National B team member (1998-99)

World Rankings
1996: 31st, 50m free
1997: 40th, 100m free
1998: 40th, 50m free; 21st, 100m free
1999: 16th, 50m free; 22nd, 100m free

Liesl married her 1999 Pan Pacific teammate, Ugur Taner (we’ll hear from Ugur next month), and they have two children. Will this swimming dynasty continue? Only time will tell.

Liesl had a few things to say to the team, so I’ll let her take it away….

Hello Masters Swimmers!

I am writing to you all to let you know what a special team and coach you have in H-Vegas! And I’m not just saying this because you stole my coach, but because I am sharing him with you!

Ron has always been my motivator, mentor and role model. I want to mirror his attitude on life, marriage, parenting, hard work and play. When my sister and I swam for Ron it was exactly what we needed. He lifted us up, made us laugh everyday and we wanted to train hard for him (ask him about our test sets). I know you all (I mean y’all) must feel the same.

Ron has had incredible experiences with swimming …not to mention he was the perpetrator of a lot of pranks and practical jokes. No doubt you’ve probably heard a lot of these stories.

I also credit Ron with motivating me to be tougher. Ask him about the Windy Hill hike and how he toughened my mind and body as we hiked up this crazy poison oak infested mountain. This was the first day I met him no less!

My husband Ugur and I started dating after we went waterskiing there in H-Vegas (Thanks, Dr. T!) back in 1997. We also conceived our first child at the NSSA conference there in 2000! What is it about that place?

I only wish I could still swim for Ron. I’m a notorious complainer, being a sprinter and all, and Ron would just take it, chew on it, and spit it back out at me with something that would make me swim hard and fast.

So your assignment is this: to swim and have fun with Ron for me, since I’m here in California and not going to make it to Indy. I’ve been to Indy a bunch of times and once with Ron for the 1996 Olympic Trials. But the most fun we had was at Clovis, Puerto Rico, and Pasadena (his old stomping ground) …all road trips to swim meets. I was the queen bee, in charge of the boys Lance and Pete. We were the 3 knuckleheads.

As you can tell, it’s the road that you travel on to get there that will hang around in your head the most. Indy is the icing on the cake!

Good luck and have fun – I want to see pictures and hear about your experiences on your website.

Liesl Taner