A Newcomer Is Making Her Own Waves OMAHA - As a first-time competitor at the Olympic trials, Breeja Larson faced a quandary. Did she act as if she has been here before or go ahead and try to get the autographs of all her favorite swimming stars? She heeded the advice of her coach: "Don't be a fan. Be a swimmer. On Wednesday night, Larson, 20, became an Olympian with a victory in the 100-meter breaststroke. She was timed in 1:05.92 to finish ahead of the reigning world champion, Rebecca Soni (1:05.99), and the world-record holder, Jessica Hardy (1:06.53). Larson, who started swimming year-round only three years ago, became the first Texas A&M swimmer to earn an individual Olympic berth. "I can't believe how people are supporting me," Larson said. I keep getting text messages over and over. I had so many supporters and grandparents, friends and their families and their families from all over the States and people in Turkey and Brazil and everything, and it's just so awesome to have that many people know who you are. She added, "It still hasn't sunk in." In just over a minute, Larson went from an autograph seeker to an Olympic peer of Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Allison Schmitt and Co. "This is all going really fast," she said. I'm excited to meet everyone. I see them walking by, and I want to introduce myself and say, "Hi" but I don't want to be a fan." In high school, Larson said, she was versatile but not like Lochte or Phelps. "I did volleyball, track, softball, and I loved it," she said. I hated swimming. It was boring. Soni has dominated the breaststroke events for the past four years, so many considered it a foregone conclusion that she would win. Which is why she was wracked by nerves before the final. "It's a different kind of nerves," she said. It kind of turns into an expectation. It's a whole "nother level of pressure. Now if I don't make it it would have been a whole "nother level of disappointment." In the future, Larson will know that feeling. But on Wednesday night, all she felt was unfettered joy.