From a young age Hallie, Madison and LeGrand Pound have known no other sport but swimming. Back in their former home of Georgia, their mother LeGrand Pound often went to the pool. Without a nanny to watch her children, she took all of them to the pool and gave them their first swimming lessons.

The Pound sisters entered Sacred Hearts Academy in 2010 with Hallie in the eighth grade, Madison in the seventh and LeGrand in fifth. All three sisters swim for the Kamehameha Swim Club, a USA year-round swim team that offers instruction for all ages. The Kamehameha Swim Club has won 20 straight state championships.

Most of the club’s swim meets are held at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Waipio. Sometimes they are at the University of Hawaii, Punahou School, Iolani School, or recreational centers in Kaneohe and Kailua. For state championships and some major invitational meets, they are held on other islands, including Maui and the Big Island. The sisters also participate in the North Shore Series and the Waikiki Rough Water events. Hallie and Madison have also swum the 9.6 mile AuAu Channel between Lanai and Maui.

Hallie is currently a sophomore at the Academy. She excels in long distance events, such as the mile events where she has taken seventh place in the state. Hallie’s favorite events include the 1500-meter freestyle, 800-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle and the 100-yard or meter butterfly. Hallie now swims for the Pac-5 swim team.

“I like swimming the longer distances because there is a lot more time to catch up. My muscles are long, lean and built for long distances so they give me a lot of endurance. Short distances don’t give you enough time to catch up if you make a small mistake in a dive or turn for example,” she said.

Hallie’s role models include Olympians Missy Franklin and Michael Phelps.

“On our swim team I look up to Kevin Freifeldt and Summer Harrison. Summer competed in the 2012 Olympic trials for the 100-meter butterfly,” said Hallie.

Freshman Madison Pound is a short distance swimmer. She enjoys doing any event that is short and especially freestyle or butterfly. Madison had a personal best, eighth place, in the 400-meter freestyle.

“My main swimming role model is Michael Phelps because he is the one who has really spoken to me and through his accomplishments tells everyone that you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to,” said Madison.

LeGrand Pound, named after her mother, is a middle distance swimmer. Her accomplishments in swimming include second place in the 400-meter freestyle, third in the 50 and 200-meter freestyle and also the 200-meter individual medley. LeGrand’s personal favorite events are the 500-yard freestyle, 1,650-yard freestyle and the individual medley.

“My role models are Michael Phelps and the fast swimmers on my team. I also like Missy Franklin. She’s so happy and smiley! It makes me want to work harder to be like her,” said LeGrand.

The Pound sisters share a mutual aspiration of swimming in college and ultimately the Olympics.

“I would like to swim for college depending on where I attend college. I am looking at trying to get swimming scholarships to universities in the Southeast, but those are very difficult to get. Our coaches are very supportive of our swim team competing at college levels like they did. I think it would be amazing to swim at the Olympics,” said Hallie.

“I definitely want to go to the Olympics and everyone thinks I can. I just need to think that. I plan on swimming almost everywhere for a good part of my life,” said LeGrand.

“If I really try hard, I know I have a chance at making Olympic trials times. Though it is just a dream, it’s seriously cool to think of yourself at that level,” said Madison.

Swimming is considered one of the hardest sports to participate in. It requires upper and lower body continuous movements with barely any time for recovery and a good amount of endurance.

“There is a lot of technique that needs to be mastered so that you are able to swim efficiently and so that you do not have injuries,” said Hallie.

No matter how hard the sport of swimming, the Pound sisters’ burning passion for the sport is undeniable.

“I have found no interest or talent in any other sport. I think it also comes from just loving to be in the water and being a part of a sport that is very rewarding individually,” said Hallie.

“I love to race other people. It’s what I love most about swimming,” said LeGrand.

“During practice hours , I look at a set and say ‘I can’t do it. I’m not going to be able to make it.’ And yet, I finish it anyway without passing out. You find yourself used to the hardness of the workouts and find that you can do it, no matter how many times you tell yourself you can’t. You have to show strength and commitment when you are swimming, and I think anyone can do that if everyone has their mind set to it,” said Madison.