When David Gerchik began his Northwestern swimming career in 2023, he was quiet. Despite Gerchik’s production in the pool, coach Rachel Stratton-Mills said she wanted him to communicate more.
“You did not know how he was doing because he kept to himself and was so quiet, but he always got in and did the work,” Stratton-Mills said. “As a coach, you say, OK, he’s doing a nice job, but as a program, we want to make sure that the individual feels like they are getting what they need and are thriving in all areas.”
Now, after competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with Team Israel and entering his sophomore year, Gerchik is more vocal. The 23-year-old appears primed to take the next step with the Wildcats.
The environment at the Olympics was unlike anything Gerchik said he had ever experienced, with packed stands and roaring fans. However, he dealt with the pressure en route to a third-place finish in Heat 1 of the 200-meter backstroke.
While the time did not qualify him for the semifinals, Gerchik said he gained a lot from the Olympic experience.
“The highest competition I had completed before the Olympics was the European Championships, which does not come near the Olympics in terms of athletes participating, the number of audience members and the size of the event,” Gerchik said. “I was nervous about how I would react to competing in this environment.”
Gerchik arrived in Paris about a week before the race. As he and his team stayed in the Olympic Village, surrounded by elite athletes and superstar competitors, he embraced the unique experience. The Israeli swimming team was not allowed to leave the Olympic Village, but he was “impressed” by the setup.
“Once I got there, I was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m in the Olympics,’” Gerchik said. “It looked so surreal. The Olympic Village was so cool and big, and seeing all those elite athletes walking around was just an experience I can’t explain.”
Gerchik was excited, especially after seeing USA Gymnastics star Simone Biles at a bus station. But after a few days, he focused on the task at hand: his race. He worked with his coach to sharpen ahead of the event but was worried about the pressure.
He said he tried to avoid thinking about his event until the day of the competition and worked with a sports psychologist to mentally prepare.
Gerchik is from Haifa, Israel. He said it was special to represent his home country on one of sports’ largest stages. But he said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East “made the occasion more important” to him.
“It was very hard for us to be here in the United States when all those things were going on back at home and to know how safe our families will be,” Gerchik said. “We felt a responsibility to represent our country, show that we are strong … That no matter how much hatred we get, we will always rise above and be able to execute and show our strength.”
Gerchik began swimming when he was 4 years old, one of many sports his parents introduced him to. However, after trying judo, gymnastics and other games, he knew swimming would be his primary sport by age 10.
Gerchik said he felt comfortable in the water early on, but as he progressed, he knew he could be special. He began winning national championships and aspiring to be like other top international swimmers.
“I like the quiet of the water,” Gerchik said. “How you disconnect once you start swimming from the outside world. I like the feeling of the water. I like how it lifts my body and challenges many aspects in my movement. I have to adapt to that feeling.”
Making the Olympics was a step forward for Gerchik. He fulfilled a major goal while competing against many of the world’s top athletes.
After a seemingly rewarding experience, Gerchik also has the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in focus. He said he plans to continue developing ahead of those Olympics and compete in California four years from now as a potential swan song of his aquatic career.
NU has started its season 2-0. Gerchik said he wants to swim quickly in each meet and perform well at the Men’s Big Ten Championships, which begin in late February.
He set personal bests in the 50-yard backstroke and 100-yard backstroke during the 2024 Big Ten Championships in late winter.
Gerchik said he has developed at NU by learning the importance of mental health and working with a sports psychologist.
“Now I feel like I have a better handle on how he is on a day-to-day basis,” Stratton-Mills said. “Also, I think he is far more comfortable and is a little more talkative and out of his shell a little more.”
In the pool, Stratton-Mills said Gerchik is working on timing his turns and underwater dolphin kicks. He is also exploring sprint freestyle events, so he does not exclusively focus on backstroke.
Stratton-Mills also said he has bought into the team aspect of college swimming more than in the 2023-24 season when the Olympics were his main focus.
“I see him a lot more invested into his other teammate’s success, as well as his own, and wanting to see this team go in this direction we’re all excited for,” Stratton-Mills said. “He’s able to do that a lot more this year.”
When Gerchik has down days in the pool, he tries to remember the doors swimming opened for him. He also thinks about his goals.
“I always keep it at the back of my mind that that’s the sport I chose,” Gerchik said. “I am really good at it, and it has brought me so many good things in my life. It gave me the opportunity to study in the United States. It got me the friends I have today and many things for which I’m grateful.”
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