Carson and Jake Foster began their journeys in the pool because their parents wanted to teach them water safety. Now the Texas standout swimmers are two of the biggest names in the sport.
Along with their older sister Hannah, sophomore Jake and freshman Carson began to take swimming seriously when they moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“We grew up playing other sports, but (Hannah) was on the swim team and we got dragged along,” Jake said.
Even while exploring other sports, Carson rose to prominence when he was 10 years old after beating one of Michael Phelps’ 100-meter butterfly National Age Group records.
“It was around 2012, which was peak olympic year,” Carson said. “I was 10 years old. I did not have an idea of what a realistic goal would be. I just wanted to get the record because it was held by Michael Phelps.”
The Foster brothers found out early on that they both trained better together. This competitive fire and urge to push each other drove both of the brothers to the Forty Acres.
“The competition we have between each other is really healthy,” Jake said. “If we did not have each other to push each other, I don’t think that we would be at the level that we are with swimming. The competition was one of the big reasons why we both ended up coming to Texas.”
Once Jake committed to Texas, it didn’t take long for Carson to do the same.
“We took all of our visits together, and Jake decided to commit to Texas because that is where he felt most at home and would better his future,” Carson said. “After he did that, it did not take me long at all to think I love Texas.”
When Jake headed down to Texas last fall, Carson lost his best training partner for the first time ever. While that loss was only for a season, both brothers noticed that their training was different because of it.
“I was lucky to have a really good training group at home, but to lose your best training partner and best friend is hard, and I had to really focus on pushing myself and relying on my coach,” Carson said.
While his best training partner was back in Ohio, Jake found it to be an easier adjustment thanks to the brotherhood on the Texas swim team.
The brothers have made a large impact on the program. In his first meet as a Longhorn, Carson broke the 400-yard individual medley national age group record.
Their hard work and dedication to the Texas program has not gone unnoticed.
“No one in their right mind picks swimming, it picks you,” Texas head coach Eddie Reese said. “It’s a really hard sport physically and mentally. Both of the guys fit the bill.”
While Carson has aged out of breaking national age group records, both brothers are ready for the rest of the season.
“We had a chip on our shoulders because we were coming in not as the defending champions, we were coming back to reclaim the title,” Jake said. “To have it taken away was hard but brought everyone together. It’s a continuation of last year, we still have things that we can prove to other people and we are the best.”
