Chloë Farro's story isn't just about swimming; it's about making crucial decisions that led her to a new experience in a discipline that has now given her a second family in the pool..
At 14, she made the pivotal decision to leave ballet, a sport she loved and had practiced since she was four, to fully dedicate herself to swimming. This decision, although difficult, set her on a path to Olympic glory.
"My siblings and I were the first in the family to get involved in competitive swimming. My parents decided to put us all in swimming lessons because we live on an island and needed to know how to survive in the water. At 14, I decided to focus all my energy on swimming. It was tough for me to let go of ballet because that was another sport I had done since I was very young. Ultimately, I’m glad I chose to focus on swimming, it gave me a second family."
Chloë’s Olympic dream began as soon as she understood what the Olympics meant. As she realized that with each competition, she was getting a bit closer to this dream. Of course, the support from her family was crucial in achieving this goal.
"Reaching the Olympics feels incredible. I’ve never cried so much out of happiness as when I found out I made it. It feels like I’ve made my entire family proud just by competing for this spot. My family has always supported my siblings and me since we started swimming, so reaching this big stage now feels like I’m giving something back to them for all the support they’ve given me throughout the years."
"I consider receiving a scholarship a significant achievement. I’m the first person in my family to get a scholarship to study abroad while doing my sport. At first, I was afraid to move to a new country and live on my own for the first time. But my swim team at Indiana State made the process 10 times easier. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to meet these amazing swimmers and to practice with them every day..
Chloë's training regimen is intense and demanding. "A typical training day lasts about 4 hours in the water, and some days also include the gym. During the week, I have three double practices; not including gym sessions. Before going to college in the US, I never had double practices. Adjusting to a 20-hour practice week was initially difficult. But college helped me adjust more to longer and harder practices."
Sacrifice is part of Chloë's journey. "I definitely don’t go out as much as a typical person my age. Most of my time goes swimming, so there isn’t much time to spend on other things. Mainly dealing with peer pressure during my teenage years to go out was a big sacrifice, but now it doesn’t bother me at all."
Commitment and balancing training, education, and social life require discipline. "I’m currently studying in the US, and it’s much easier to balance school and training compared to when I was in high school in Aruba. I would say the motivation and discipline I have in my sport also helps me balance both my social, school, and swim life."
Improving personal times is crucial in competitive swimming, and Chloë has achieved significant milestones. "A major milestone was last year when I hit 57 seconds in my 100 freestyle. It was something I worked on for two years. I was stuck at 58 seconds for two years. I think my mentality is much better now compared to before."
For the upcoming Olympics, Chloë's goals are clear and focused on personal improvement and enjoying the experience. "My goals for the Olympics are to enjoy my first time there. Also to experience the Olympic dream as much as I can. Apart from that, I would like to achieve a good personal result in my 50 freestyle at the games."."
I want to walk around the village, see all the athletes, go to different events, and do everything I can to enjoy every part of the games. "I’m excited to compete against the bigger athletes to see what it’s like. I don’t have a specific athlete in mind, but I’m definitely excited to see all the top athletes swim."
Representing Aruba on a global stage fills Chloë with pride. "Every time I go to international meets, I wear my Aruban uniform with pride because I know that as a small island, we have a lot of fight in us. Waving the Aruba flag among all the other big countries gives me a sense of pride that words can’t describe."
Carrying the legacy of Aruba in swimming is an honor for Chloë. "In my case, it means everything. It has been 20 years since the last swimmer from my team, the Aruba Dolphins, represented Aruba at the Olympics. I hope my representation of Aruba at the Olympics will inspire all my teammates and show them that anything is possible if they work for it."
"My family is the best support system anyone could ask for. The time my parents spent at the pool cheering us on, driving us everywhere, whether it was for practice or massages, is everything. My parents have been volunteering with my team forever. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support. They never doubted my dream for a moment. My siblings are also the best support system, they always go to practice with me. I can’t thank my family enough for everything they’ve done for me."
Looking beyond the Olympics, Chloë wants to stay connected to the sport. "I would love to stay connected to the sport even after retiring. Whether it be volunteering in the Aruba Aquatics Federation, the Olympic Committee, or even for my swim team. Swimming is something that will always have a role in my life and I hope that when I stop doing it I can still use my knowledge to mentor the younger swimmers dreaming to be where I am today."
Advice for Young Swimmers: "No dream is too big to dream. If you truly want something and you dedicate your time to it, stay motivated, and have the discipline for it, something good will happen. There will be times when a swim might not go your way, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. Not every swim will be perfect, but those not-so-perfect swims help you learn to grow and become a better swimmer. And another thing, make sure to always have fun with it."
If you could have any superpower to enhance your swimming, what would it be and why?
Chloë: "To breathe underwater. I’m a sprinter, so if I could go a whole 50 without breathing, it would make me 10 times faster (theoretically)."
What’s an unusual or surprising pre-competition ritual?
Chloë: "I don’t have unusual rituals. Normally, I enjoy dancing a bit before I swim, which helps me swim without stress. I also hit my arms and legs behind the block, but that’s not unusual for swimmers, although it might be for people who don’t understand what’s going on."
If you could compete in any other Olympic sport just for fun, which would it be and why?
Chloë: "I would choose gymnastics. I did gymnastics as a kid and watching it now is very entertaining. I would love to do one of those bar routines because I think they look really cool."
What’s your go-to song to pump you up before a big competition?
Chloë: "It changes, it definitely depends on what songs I’ve been listening to recently. But if there’s one song I always go back to, it’s 'Numb' by Linkin Park."
If your swimming style were an animal, which would it be and why?
Chloë: "A hippopotamus because at first glance, they don’t seem like they can swim fast, but they are actually very fast in the water."
The Comite Olimpico Arubano (COA) is Aruba's national sports organization and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Founded on August 21, 1985, following Aruba's attainment of autonomous status within the Dutch Kingdom, the COA became the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for Aruba. It separated from the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee (NAOC) with 14 founding sports federations, including baseball, athletics, and basketball.
Recognized by the IOC since 1986, the COA's mission is to develop and protect the Olympic Movement in Aruba. The first time Aruban athletes competed in the Olympics was at the Seoul Games in 1988.
COA operated from the Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadium in Oranjestad starting in 1994 and moved to a new headquarters at Vondellaan 27 in 2019. The new facility was inaugurated on March 11, 2023, after a complete renovation. The COA is affiliated with several international sports organizations, including ANOC, PANAM Sports, ODESUR, ODECABE, and CANOC.
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