caption: BIG HONOR: Princeton High sophomore swimming star Victor Honore, left, enjoys a break with U.S. Olympian Lenny Krayzelburg after a training session at the World Sports Festival 2009 held last month in Vienna, Austria. Honore made a splash at the international competition, taking first in the boys’ U-16 50-meter backstroke, second in the 100 butterfly, third in the 100 freestyle, and fourth in the 200 back. He also helped both the 4x100 medley relay and the 8x50 free mixed relay teams take second.

PHS Swim Star Honore Makes Big Splash, Winning 5 Medals at World Sports Festival

Bill Alden

Victor Honore started swimming competitively just two years ago but he has already come a long way in the sport.

Joining the Princeton-based X-Cel Swimming club team as an eighth grader, Honore made an instant impact in the backstroke and the relays.

Last winter, Honore starred as a freshman for the Princeton High boys’ swim team, helping the Little Tigers capture a sectional title.

Earlier this summer, Honore headed to Vienna, Austria and competed in the World Sports Festival 2009 through the People-to-People Sports Ambassador Program.

The event drew 5,000 athletes from 21 countries with competition in 11 different sports including tennis, soccer, volleyball, baseball, basketball, and football. Honore was joined at the competition by PHS classmate Will Greenberg, who played for the U.S. U-15 baseball team.

Honore made quite a splash in the international competition, taking first in the boys’ U-16 50-meter backstroke, second in the 100 butterfly, third in the 100 freestyle, and fourth in the 200 back. He also helped both the 4x100 medley relay and the 8x50 free mixed relay teams take second.

For Honore, the experience of competing overseas should hasten his already rapid development as a swimmer.

“It felt unreal, I was amazed to be representing the U.S.,” said Honore.

“I am more focused and confident about going fast. I am pretty sure it is going to help me going forward.”

Honore and his swimming teammate got some good help from coach Lenny Krayzelburg, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder.

“We had three hours of swimming a day,” said Honore. “We would be in the water for one and a half to two hours. After that we would work with Lenny; he would help us with little things.”

For Honore, winning the gold in the 50 back was one of many highlights in the meet.

“It didn’t really sink in until afterward,” said Honore, reflecting on his gold medal effort. “I was pretty happy with my 100 fly, that was my best time. We had a good relay.”

Out of the pool, Honore experienced some memorable moments as well. “I made some good friends,” said Honore, who stayed with the U.S. delegation at the Pyramid Hotel.

“We went into Vienna and we got to see what a European city was like. We went to a concentration camp which was really touching and moving.”

For Honore, the trip changed him as a person. “I think it really matured me,” said Honore, who was specially selected to compete and is completing academic requirements related to the program’s culture and heritage excursions.

“There wasn’t supervision like at home. I had to make my own decisions.”

Based on how much he has accomplished in swimming in a short time, Honore has made a decision to stay in the sport for the long haul.

“I have tried different sports and this is what I am best at,” asserted Honore. “I really want to swim in college and see how far I can go.”

If his performance in Austria is any indication, it looks like Honore could go pretty far in swimming.

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