KINGSTON, RI (WPRI) — This week’s Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses Hometown Sports Hero is Holden Brown from Lincoln High School.

As a junior last winter, Brown made a significant impact in the world of swimming by breaking two state records in the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly. His performance earned him All-State honors for the third consecutive season.

“It’s like such a competition, like if you’re not racing someone next to you, you’re racing your times,” Brown said. “Like there’s always a way to be better, always a way to get better, and everyday at practice you always have something to focus on.”

For Brown, focusing on swimming was a natural choice. His parents, Beth and Tim, both swam at the University of Rhode Island (URI). Additionally, his brother McGovern and sister Sadie were also part of the swimming team at Lincoln High School before moving on to Providence College and Butler University, respectively. However, his early experiences in the pool were not what one would call smooth.

“My grandma still talks about it, she still makes fun of me, like, ‘You used to hate the water, you hated being in it,” Brown said. “But I kind of just saw my siblings do it and I thought, ‘OK, it isn’t bad, like I have nothing to fear. And I kind of grew used to the water, just like being in it and yes, it just became normal to me.”

Holden will follow in the footsteps of his siblings by swimming in the Big East Conference at Georgetown University. The Hoyas have won the last four straight league titles and are set to continue their dominance under new head coach John Carroll. If Brown continues to perform as he has with Lincoln High School, there’s a real possibility he could earn the chance to compete for the ultimate prize—Olympic glory.

“I toured the place and I just fell in love with it instantly,” Brown said. “It just kind of clicked, like I just stepped on the campus and it’s so nice, and I love Washington, D.C. I just love the atmosphere around it and there’s a new coach this year and he’s just the best so I’m excited to spend four years with that team.”

“The practices are much more intense, and they are going to expect more out of him but if anyone can handle it, it’s Holden,” said Lincoln Head Coach Tom DiIorio. “Like I said, he’s just amazing swimming. There’s no cap to what he can do. I wouldn’t be surprised in a few years if he is in the Olympics. That’s how good he is.”

If you have a Hometown Sports Hero you’d like to nominate, email sports@wpri.com.

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