Nic Borst

When Nic Borst was deciding where to go to college, the Colorado-native had a few specific things in mind. He wanted a school with small classes and professors who know their students by name. He wanted to major in the sciences, so strong academic programs were a must. He also needed a body of water nearby so he could continue his dream of achieving Olympic gold.

Yes, Olympic gold.

Nic is a member of the United States Canoe and Kayak Team -- and he is training to earn a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team to compete in the whitewater slalom in Beijing. He became involved in the sport during high school, and after just a few years in the water he is competing at the highest national and international levels. To do that, he undergoes intense training.

"I'm training twice a day," Nic said. "I get up in the morning and lift or run, or I go over to a nearby lake and work out. Then in the afternoon, I drive to Frederick (Md.), where they have an artificial course. On the weekends, I go to Washington, D.C., to do flat-water training at the U.S. training center and then on the Potomac River where there are lots of gorges by Great Falls National Park." And last year, Nic traveled to Guiynang, China, south of Beijing, to train at a facility that is a replica of the one that will be built for the 2008 Olympics.

What is Nic's chance of making it to Beijing in 2008? The road ahead will be a tough one.

"The Olympic qualifiers will take place in the spring of 2008," Nic said. "Qualifying just changed. You have to be the top boat now. After that, you go to the World Cups. In order to go to the Olympics, you have to place in the top 20."

Nic studies just as hard as he trains. A sophomore majoring in health sciences, he finds this on-the-go way of life to work best for him. "I'm one of those people who likes to be busy," Nic said.

The blend of training and academics that Nic has created at Gettysburg is an ideal balance for him. In his anatomy class, for example, Nic learns about the muscular and skeletal systems that lie at the core of his training and the coaching he gives to others. He is able to meld classroom theory with practical applications -- something he does so well that many in kayaking consider Nic to be one of the best youth development instructors for the sport in the United States.

"Learning about the systems of the body helps me with my training. When I feel the burning in my muscles while I'm paddling, I know why and I know how it works," Nic said. "I use the knowledge to better my training, but also to know more as a coach."