Arizona State senior swimmer Cody Bybee continues to set high goals for himself
BELLBROOK, Ohio — Cody Bybee (Bellbrook High School alumnus) started swimming at 8 years old. He was comfortable in the water and the instructor commented that he was a 鈥渘atural鈥� and a quick learner. It wasn鈥檛 long after this that he joined the swim team. Throughout his childhood, he also played baseball and basketball, but at the age of 15 decided to focus on swimming.
Today, Cody is a Senior at Arizona State University. Things haven鈥檛 gone as Cody planned for his college swimming career. His freshman year he got mono and missed the championships. The following year NCAAs were canceled due to Covid, although he did get to have a good showing at Pac-12鈥檚 that year. His junior year was a redshirt.
鈥淪o here I am, a senior who was hoping to have national titles under my belt by now – who hasn’t yet been to NCAA鈥檚. It鈥檚 been a little rocky, but I鈥檝e learned a lot and if everything goes as planned, it should be a great year this year鈥�, says Cody.
Redshirting his junior year, allowed him to focus on the U.S. Olympic team trials where Cody was able to make a semi-final and finished 14th overall in the 100 Fly. 鈥淥verall, it was a good year for growth. Mentally and physically, I鈥檓 looking forward to the coming season and the following year should I decide to take it.鈥�
Swimming has taught Cody that nothing happens overnight. 鈥淚t happens brick by brick. If you build a foundation and show up every single day to get better. Those small consistent efforts over many years are where the greatness comes from. It takes patience and persistence to get where you want to go.鈥�
Cody remarks, 鈥淥bjectively speaking I鈥檓 not built for this sport. I鈥檓 only 5鈥�10 and have small hands and feet. At the level that I compete, most people are 6鈥�2 – 6鈥�4 on average鈥�. He stays competitive by maintaining a fairly strict diet, training 20 plus hours per week, and doing the proper recovery and mobility his body needs.
He prepares mentally by knowing that he has done the work to be in the race. This allows him to go into the race extremely confident. 鈥淚 go into the race with the intention to win, no matter who is next to me. Sometimes I visualize but I always have a plan as to how I鈥檒l attack each race.鈥� He doesn鈥檛 let up until the race is finished. On one occasion he finished so hard that he sprained/dislocated his thumb and had to wear a splint for a few weeks.
When asked if anyone has helped him in his sport, Cody replies鈥� It’s a combination of a lot of people. It is the whole support network. First and foremost is my family. Then my teammates, coaches, physical trainers, strength coaches, nutritionists, chiropractors, tutors, academic coaches, etc. They all contribute in some way to helping me be the best athlete I can be.鈥�
He is most proud of the person that he has become in every area. 鈥淚t allows me to set an example, and to be a role model to my family and friends and the underclassmen on the team.鈥�
Cody enjoys competing and putting all his efforts into the workouts every day and is proud of his team. 鈥淚t’s truly special to have a team of people that I can go out with every day and push our bodies to their limit. It鈥檚 a team of similar minds focused on improving and getting better and you don鈥檛 see a collective unit as we have very often.鈥�
The coaches provide a certain energy to the meets as well. 鈥淪eeing the coaches go nuts on the sideline gets the whole team so hype and makes us want to do the same.鈥� For example, in his sophomore year at a dual meet against the University of Arizona, ASU was winning by so much they had to mercy rule them. During that meet, the coaches brought so much energy to the team, huddle. 鈥淚t’s cool to see coaches in their 50鈥檚 have that kind of energy. It was hype.鈥�
Cody enjoys golfing in his free time and is currently pursuing his real estate license.
Cody has his goals for swimming set high. He would like to lead his team to a PAC-12 title and to a top 3 NCAA finish. He would also like to hold both individual and team national titles. He hopes to compete once more for 鈥渢he great United States鈥� internationally again in the near future. He is exploring the possibilities of a professional career after college.
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