Mike Keyser

By Shawna Carpentier
UWRF Sports Information

UW-River Falls junior Mikhael Keyser has been swimming since he was eight and Falcon Coach. Bill Henderson says that Keyser "is an inspiration to us all."  

Competing in collegiate sports is an accomplishment for any athlete, but for Keyser it is a special feat. After losing his leg to a rare form of cancer, Ewing's Sarcoma, at 4 ½ years old, Keyser has practiced courage, skill, and strength overcoming his physical limitation. He doesn't swim because it's easy, he swims because swimming "allows you to compete everyday in practices and meets against yourself, and your teammates," says Keyser.

  As a native from the Lake Placid, Fla., Keyser has faced some of the strongest swimmers in the nation. To put it into perspective Keyser says, "swimming is so competitive at all ages [in Florida]." Keyser was a four-year state qualifier as a member of the Lake Placid High School swim team before graduating in 2002. He earned the Rookie of the Year award his freshman year and held the MVP honor for holding the most points during a swim season. Lake Placid has won approximately 10 out of the last 12 district titles.  

  Swimming in high school was only the beginning for Keyser. Keyser went on to become a member of the U.S. Paralympic team and broke the U.S. record in the 50-meter freestyle in December of 2003. That same year he met Henderson on a trip with the team to Edmonton, Canada. Henderson encouraged Keyser to consider coming to River Falls to compete on the swim team. In 2004 while at the University of Minnesota for the Paralympic Trials, Keyser decided to apply at River Falls.  

After the trials at Minnesota, Keyser headed to the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece, an experience he says, "was amazing." Keyser says in regard to trying for the chance to compete on the U.S. Paralympic team again will depend on if he can get the time to train.

The biggest challenge of his sport is not his physical limitation, but "knowing that you have to go [swim] every single day," explains Keyser. At the stroke of 2:15 p.m. Keyser drops whatever he is doing and finds himself at the pool. His attitude is what helps him to get through practice, Keyser says, "workouts are is hard as you make them."

"Coach pushes me," says Keyser. "I get treated just like everyone else on the team." He emphasizes that some workouts are harder for him than the other swimmers, but that there are workouts that are easier for him and harder for the other swimmers.  

Helping people to push themselves to make themselves better is the philosophy Keyser instills as an advocate for children with disabilities, a personal trainer and a coach. Keyser is passionate about finding children with disabilities and encouraging them to participate in swimming so that they can realize their potential. "Keep at it, keep moving, don't let yourself down, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it," advises Keyser.

"I enjoy seeing other people reaching their goals and improving themselves." For three years, Keyser coached swimming in Lake Placid serving as a mentor to young swimmers. Keyser believes that by challenging himself as a swimmer, he challenges other swimmers to be better. He says it is an exchange between people that shows "people they can push themselves."

Keyser doesn't mind being pushed by his teammates or pushing them either. Although he does have a different balance in the water than other swimmers, Keyser says it is only a small hindrance. He has trained himself and developed a pull stronger than a lot of other swimmers.  

With his graduation from River Falls approaching in a little over a year and a half, Keyser pursues his major in health and human performance with a minor in health education. He hopes to use his degree to coach swimming at the high school level in the future. In the meantime, he works as a personal trainer at Bally Total Fitness in Little Canada, Minn.  

Outside of swimming Keyser enjoys working on cars and he says would be a racecar driver if he had the chance.

Keyser credits his parents, Jane and Ken Keyser, for inspiring him to swim. He is a brother to Jessica and Alysha.

"[Swimming] is the toughest sport for the body and soul," expresses Keyser with his strong personality.