Norfolk Academy alumni Callie Dickinson and Kayla Wilson one step from 2024 Olympics
NORFOLK, Va. — Two Norfolk Academy (NA) alumni from Virginia Beach are one step from the 2024 Olympics 鈥� and that is hardly their only noteworthy highlight.
Callie Dickinson, a 2018 Academy graduate, and Kayla Wilson, a 2022 graduate, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, in June. Top performers there advance to the Olympics, which begin in July in Paris, France.
In March, Wilson helped Stanford University finish 5th at the 2024 NCAA Championships. A few months earlier, she won two medals, including one gold, at the Pan American Games in Chile. That came after she helped Stanford earn 3rd place at the 2023 NCAA Championships. A sophomore, she already has earned multiple All-American honors.
Dickinson recently finished swimming at the University of Georgia. She qualified for the NCAA Championships in all five of her seasons and earned six All-America honors. Last August, she reached the semifinals of the 100- and 200-meter butterfly at the World University Games. In October, she was named a finalist for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, which recognizes student-athletes who distinguish themselves in athletics, academics and the community throughout their college careers.
Dickinson made the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll in all five seasons. Last year, she received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and the prestigious SEC Women鈥檚 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. She finished at Georgia with a master鈥檚 degree in comparative biomedical sciences and this fall will begin at Louisiana State University鈥檚 medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Both swimmers are feverishly preparing for the Olympics. Dickinson is in the pool sometimes more than five hours a day. She鈥檚 also working a part-time job in the medical field. Wilson practices 20 hours a week 鈥� the maximum amount the NCAA allows 鈥� while balancing a rigorous class schedule at one of America鈥檚 top academic colleges.
Kristen Kirkman coached both women at NA. 鈥淏oth are naturally athletic,鈥� she said. “What helped them improve is their work ethic, dedication and openness to listening and making changes. They are both well deserving. They bring a sense of pride back to Norfolk Academy.鈥�
Both swimmers credit NA with helping them reach this point. Specifically, they note the team atmosphere that Kirkman builds in the swim program.
鈥淚 credit NA with helping me love the sport more,鈥� Wilson said.
Dickinson didn鈥檛 start swimming until she was about 6, relatively old in the world of Olympic contenders. She acknowledges she didn鈥檛 start making great gains in the sport until she was a few years in. Her path taught her a valuable lesson for younger student-athletes.
鈥淒ream big, and never give up on your dreams,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to do your best when you鈥檙e happiest.鈥�
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