Washington State University Athletics
New Home Leads to Darcy Revitt Rediscovering her Love for Swim
March 15, 2026 | Swimming
Before sophomore Darcy Revitt arrived at Washington State, she had competed in high-level events all over her home country of England. While she's carried that success into the collegiate scene, the achievements she's achieved as a Cougar have felt more gratifying as the program has rekindled her love for the sport.Â
By the end of her freshman season, she won three events in the Mountain West Conference Championship and became the third Cougar to ever qualify for the NCAA Championships as a freshman.Â
"My brain still hadn't really clocked it, so when I got to conference and I achieved everything I could have wanted it was insane, I was like, 'Wow this is what happens when you enjoy something and you work hard,'" Revitt said.Â
Before getting to WSU, Revitt did not have this kind of relationship with swimming she does now. Back in England, the training became stale. She described the training as, "Up and down," for two hours straight. Training in meters as well, the high-volume training stripped the fun out of swimming.Â
Even though her relationship with swimming was not what she might have wanted, still the idea of coming to the United States intrigued Revitt. After a visit in 2022, Revitt committed Washington State. When she arrived, Revitt experienced a culture shock. Living in the dorms, the balance between swimming and studies could be expected. But even little things simple as small talk became an adjustment. Â
"I'd just be casually minding my own business in Walmart and then I'm in the line and this ladies like, 'So how is your day,' and I'm like, "Hello?' Revitt said. "It's really not normal to talk to strangers where I'm from. If you talk to someone they kind of just think your weird." Â
Almost as unexpected as the small talk was the difference in training. Revitt said she still remembers her first couple weeks of practice. When the team broke off into their position groups, assistant coach Austin Pillado led the spring freestylers. The exercises Pillado had the group do Revitt had never done. Two years in the program Revitt credits the coaching staff with how their practices are set up. Â
"We never repeat stuff unless it'ss like a taper and that honestly impressive, in two years to not really repeat anything," Revitt said. Â
The environment also felt different from her club back home. Everyone wanted the best for each other, she felt her teammates pushing her and every meet the team were the loudest ones there. This environment changed the way Revitt viewed swimming.Â
"Everyone's so supportive, everyone wants the best for you, the training is so much fun," Revitt said. "Honestly, I think my whole freshman year was just me rediscovering how much I loved swimming."Â
Having more fun with swim has allowed Revitt to push herself harder.Â
"It's hard if you don't actually enjoy what you're doing," Revitt said. "If you actually like the sets you're doing, you like seeing the results of your own hard work it's so much easier to keep riding that wave of improvement if you put everything into it."Â
Now as a sophomore, Revitt has found herself putting more care into herself outside of swimming. Cooking her own meals, going for walks and doing everything she can to maximize her performance in the pool which she might not have done if she had re-found her love for the sport.Â
As Revitt prepares for her second straight trip to the NCAA Championships, after that in the spring she will compete in nationals back in England to keep herself in the British rankings for the 2028 Olympics. She continues to push herself harder than ever because of her newfound love for the sport.
Players Mentioned
