Atkinson’s Journey Back into the Pool

Swimming was always something that came naturally for Emma Atkinson.

For most, waking up at 5 a.m. to swim laps in a pool seems unnatural or uninviting. For Atkinson, those early mornings on the pool deck gave her something no other sport could: a home and a place where she could show her competitive side.  

Atkinson grew up in the suburbs just 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia. She and her brother grew up competing with each other in lacrosse in their backyard, proving to not only herself, but to her parents that she belonged in sports.  

The Philadelphia native began swimming at just seven years old after convincing her parents to let her join the local swim club near her childhood home.  

“I begged my parents to let me join, and they shot me down for two years in a row because they said I was too young," Atkinson stated. “When I first joined my summer club team, I loved it. From that point on, I couldn't get enough of it." 

Atkinson quickly found her talents in freestyle and backstroke events. She continued to swim throughout middle and high school, eventually becoming one of the best swimmers in the country, earning spots on the Junior National Team in 2019 and 2021. 

When choosing a college to attend, Atkinson visited multiple schools and instantly felt at home when she stepped onto Virginia Tech’s campus during her unofficial visit.  

“I fell in love with it instantly,” said the fifth-year senior. “Just the way that campus looked, the coaches, the team. I knew that there was something special about Virginia Tech, so I opted to take an official visit. It was just very nice to see how close everyone on the team was. I committed a couple weeks after my official visit, and the rest is history."

Since her freshman year, the freestyle and backstroke swimmer has made lasting memories and found a second family with Virginia Tech swim and dive. 

If you’ve ever visited the Christiansburg Aquatic Center during one of their meets, you know how loud the Hokies can get when cheering on their fellow teammates, showing fans and opposing teams alike their family dynamic. This is something that has stuck out to Atkinson throughout her time at Tech.

Now a fifth year on the team, Atkinson has truly enveloped herself in the program and proven her skills in the water. Through her time in the maroon and orange, she has racked up accolades left and right. A four-time All-American and five-time Olympic Trials qualifier, the freestyle and backstroke swimmer is a true force to be reckoned with. She has multiple ACC first place finishes and numerous top times across the board. 

In her senior year, Atkinson unfortunately fell ill and was diagnosed with a “mono relapse” which inhibited her abilities to swim at the level she had previously been used to. While uncommon, mono relapses can be caused due to weakened immune systems or emotional stress. The condition triggered other illnesses as well that further inhibited her athletic and physical abilities. 

“It happened right at the start of the season, and I knew something was wrong because I had no appetite,” said Atkinson. “I was so tired, and I was practicing really poorly and was eventually hospitalized on my birthday because of it. It was a slow start getting back into swimming after I was cleared, because after the first week of being back in the water, my throat started to really bother me, and I got strep throat with no tonsils. I could barely eat or drink anything. And then I got back, and then got a stomach bug, and then got a sinus infection." 

The illnesses took a toll on Atkinson’s body and prohibited her from qualifying for the NCAA Championships individually for the first time in her collegiate career. 

“Going into ACCs and NCAAs, I knew I wasn't going to swim as fast as I would like,” Atkinson said. “I didn't qualify for NCAAs individually, and that was the first year that's ever happened to me. I felt bad because I felt like I wasn't swimming to the best of my ability. And in turn, I thought that I was disappointing my teammates and my coaches." 

Not being able to compete up to a personal standard could certainly take a toll on one’s mental health. Luckily, Atkinson had previously interned with Virginia Tech Athletics’ Sports Psychology department and had been in open communication with the department through her time at Tech.

“Mental health is extremely important,” Atkinson stated. “Following freshman year, I really started to talk to sports psychology and learn more about mental health and why it matters. Ever since then, I've been the healthiest I've ever been just by talking to them." 

A seasoned vet on the team, Atkinson strives to be a resource for the freshmen and underclassmen in the program because she understands what they are going through and knows that she can help. 

“I don't want the freshmen to be unhappy," said Atkinson. "I don't want the freshmen to be worried about anything. I would appreciate it if someone were to come up to me and ask me a question, rather than hiding it."

Practices for the current season started back in August and Atkinson has made sure to maintain open communication with her coaches on not only her physical wellbeing, but also her mental wellbeing.  

“I have monthly meetings with the coaches, just to recap how training is going mentally, and how I'm doing physically,” Atkinson said. “They help guide me and give me confidence. It's my last year and I want to do well, and I think that it all starts with a positive attitude."

In her last season with the Hokies, Atkinson has clear goals for herself and for the team. Not only does she hope to be a louder presence on the bench cheering for her teammates, but she also hopes to stand on the NCAA podium with her relay team.  

“We've been so close every single year; it would be so nice if the four of us could stand on the podium together,” stated Atkinson. “It's a lot different when you're standing on the podium with your teammates, the girls that you've been swimming in relays with for years and years. They're so deserving of a trophy individually or of a relay, and I want to be part of that experience with them."

Emma and the Hokies will compete at the ACC Championships in February and the NCAA Championships in late March. Following her time in the maroon and orange, Atkinson hopes to continue working with collegiate athletics. 

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