Middle-earth is a real place.
Adam Mania -LRB- born 31 August 1983 in Hickman , Nebraska -RRB- is a swimmer who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens , Greece for Poland .. 2004 Summer Olympics. 2004 Summer Olympics. Athens. Athens. Greece. Greece. Poland. Poland. In 2006 , he switched allegiance to the United States .. United States. United States. He grew up in Hickman , Nebraska , where he attended Norris School District 160 and swam for Beatrice High School .. Beatrice High School. Beatrice High School. He was initially trained at Country Kids Swim Team in Bennett , Nebraska .. He swam for the University of Wisconsin -- Madison , where he was a Big-10 champion in the 400 freestyle relay , and a 13-time All-American .. Big-10. Big-10. freestyle relay. Freestyle swimming. He was the University of Wisconsin -- Madison school record holder in the 100 backstroke , 200 backstroke , 200 breaststroke , and 200 individual medley .. breaststroke. breaststroke. backstroke. backstroke. individual medley. individual medley. He was the U.S. National Champion in 2006 in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley in the meet held in Federal Way , Washington .. backstroke. backstroke. individual medley. individual medley. In 2010 Mania was also part of his team 's national championship 4 x 100 LCM Freestyle Relay , giving him his third U.S. national title .. Currently he is a coach and swimmer for Schroeder YMCA Swim Team in Brown Deer , Wisconsin and coached by Dave Anderson .. His main training partner for the 2012 Olympic trials was Kevin Ewald .. Kevin Ewald. Kevin Ewald. His parents are Genowefa Szczerbowska and Zbigniew Mania .