Taylor Williams makes a splash

Taylor+Williams%2C+whose+goal+is+to+swim+in+the+Olympics%2C+is+ranked+No.+1+in+the+country+for+the+100-meter+breaststroke.

Randi Terry

Taylor Williams, whose goal is to swim in the Olympics, is ranked No. 1 in the country for the 100-meter breaststroke.

Taylor Williams, with high hopes to qualify for the Olympics, is statistically one of the best swimmers in the nation.

According to swimmingrank.com, the sophomore at Center Hill High School holds a variety of records in the 100-meter breaststroke, 200-meter breaststroke, 200-meter backstroke, 100-meter individual medley, 200-meter individual medley, 50-meter breaststroke, 100-meter backstroke and 50-meter backstroke.

“I want to be the best at everything I do, and the Olympics keep me motivated,” Williams said. “I want to go to an elite D1 college and to the Olympics.”

According to chhsponyexpress.com, Williams, 15, is Mississippi’s champion in the 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter individual medley. In October, he set a new state record in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 56.84, beating his 2016 winning time by nearly two seconds. He is also now ranked No. 1 in the country for the 100-meter breaststroke.

Williams said he spends almost all of his free time in the pool working on getting better, putting in “24 to 30 hours of swim a week.”

In addition to the Center Hill swim team, Williams swims for coach Dan Shultz with Memphis Thunder Aquatic Club.