Carvin’s Return Marks Change for the Better

MISSION VIEJO — For Chad Carvin, it’s like visiting an old friend. At least that’s how Carvin, a former Laguna Hills High swimming standout, described his feelings about competing in the 26th Mission Viejo Swim Meet of Champions, which begins today.

“I’m really fond of that meet,” Carvin said from Tucson, Ariz., where he trains with Hillenbrand Aquatics. “I remember the first time I swam there. I was a sophomore in high school and I was swimming against all these superstars. I try to make it every year.”

This year’s meet will be especially noteworthy for Carvin, who was facing the end of his career one year ago.

In December, 1995, Carvin was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a virus that affects the heart. Because of his illness, Carvin missed the Olympic trials.

Carvin had been one of the bright spots for U.S. swimming and was expected to be a contender for gold in the 400-meter freestyle in Atlanta. In 1994, Carvin was the country’s top-ranked 400 free swimmer and was ranked second the next year.

Carvin got more bad news: the virus might have caused severe damage to his heart, in which case he would need a transplant. At one point, he became so weak he had to cut back in almost all of his classes at Arizona, and the school issued him a parking spot so he wouldn’t have to walk far to classes.

Carvin remained positive and had no doubt he would swim competitively again. Most people who have cardiomyopathy never completely recover, but Carvin began to notice changes in his body that pointed toward a recovery.

“It was in May last year,” he said. “I started to feel different. I could feel my body recuperating. I started to ride my bike. I even started to do afternoon [swimming] workouts.”

As days turned into months, Carvin made great strides toward regaining his form. In December, he joined Mark Spitz and Tom Dolan as the only men to win four events at the National Short Course Championships. Today, Carvin is swimming double workouts daily.

“I feel great. I’m still not like I was a couple of years ago, but I’m getting there,” Carvin said.

“I used to have long-term [swimming] goals. Not anymore,” he said. “I go season by season, and if I have a shot at the Olympic trials, that will be great. But I now realize there are other things besides swimming. I like to skateboard, surf and play my guitar. If I have a bad workout, that’s OK. I leave it at the pool.”

Carvin will be swimming the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle races, the 100 butterfly and the 200 and 400 individual medleys during the four-day event in Mission Viejo.

Also scheduled to compete are Olympians Amy Van Dyken, Kristine Quance, Jenny Thompson, Amanda Beard, Brad Bridgewater, Bart Sikora and Bart Kizierowski.

Also competing will be many of the nation’s top high school swimmers, including Arizona’s Misty Hyman, who is world ranked in the 100 and 200 butterfly, and Philippe Demers of Santa Margarita High.