Calabasas Swimmer Makes a Splash

Olivia Friedman, a sophomore at de Toledo High School, accomplished a feat no other female swimmer in the high school’s history ever had before when she recently took home two medals at the CIF-Southern Section Swimming Championships—placing seventh in the 100-yard backstroke and eighth in the 200-yard individual medley, competing with over 140 female athletes in the division. Olivia began her swimming career a little later than one might expect of a top-tier athlete, starting in fifth grade while attending Viewpoint School. Her unmatched determination and hard work enabled her success as her abilities quickly caught up and even surpassed her teammates. 

When the pandemic hit, Olivia’s discipline became even more focused as she swam in her backyard pool tied to a bungee cord and holding a weighted ball while her coach watched via Zoom. She also trained with former Olympic gold medalist Mike Alexandrov in Marina del Rey several days a week at 5:30 a.m. before logging into school remotely, never missing class time while her mother drove her back to Calabasas. Olivia currently trains with CLASS Aquatics out of Oaks Christian School. 

“Swimming has given me the foundation to thrive as a student athlete and leader and to serve my community,” shares Olivia, who received the de Toledo High School Presidential Award in 2022 for her community service hours and has met the requirements to receive the prestigious award again in 2023. 

Olivia is a member of the National Honor Society and a certified lifeguard through the American Red Cross. She hopes to further her swimming career in college, continuing to grow as an athlete and person.