Naperville Swimmer Heading to Rio Olympics

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville’s very own Kevin Cordes is going to the Olympics.

Cordes qualified in the 100-meter breaststroke Monday, according to the Associated Press. His time was 59.18.

"It was overwhelming," Cordes told the Chicago Tribune. "It was a lot of emotions hitting me all at once: the initial shock, then the excitement.

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In 2012, he just missed qualifying for an Olympic spot after coming in third.

"I definitely carried that for four years," Cordes told the Associated Press. "It's been in the back of my mind throughout many practices and many points, and I'm happy this time it's a little bit different."

Cordes swam for Neuqua Valley during his high school days. Even then, his high school coach Chad Allen knew he was Olympic-bound.

"We knew he had that special gift," Allen told the Tribune.

For the past year, Cordes has been training in Singapore under Sergio Lopez, coach of the Singapore national team.

"It was a pretty hard decision, picking up and moving halfway across the world, but it has paid off," Cordes told the Tribune. "Training with Sergio has really helped me. I couldn't ask for anything better."

The 2016 Summer Olympics will be held in August in Rio.