Swimmer in a Rusch to Succeed

All of the four Rusch sisters—Tory, 17, Ali, 16, Maddie, 14, and Olivia, 12—take to the pool competitively to some degree. But while Tory decided to focus most of her energy on softball, and Allie explored her love of the theater, Maddie followed their father Kevin’s path and has devoted most of her time to competitive swimming. (For the record, Olivia is still undecided.) It’s a good thing she did, because the New Canaan YMCA team  wouldn’t have one of its strongest national swimmers otherwise.

“She got really hungry, really driven this spring,” said Jason Paige, the Y’s competitive swimming director. Maddie placed in the top 10 in two events at this year’s YMCA Long Course Nationals in Maryland July 27-30. She placed fourth in the 50-meter freestyle and seventh in the 100-meter butterfly, despite competing against older, more experienced swimmers. Maddie also swam for all five of the New Canaan Y’s relay teams. “We looked to her to help carry the team, and that’s a lot to ask of a young swimmer,” Paige added.

When school goes back in session at the end of the month, Maddie will enter her sophomore year at New Canaan High, where she is also a standout swimmer for the Rams. In her freshman season, she earned first team All-FCIAC honors, and at the league championships won the 50-meter freestyle and placed third in the 100-meter butterfly.  

Although Maddie had previously played softball and dabbled in theater like her older sisters, she decided to focus on competitive swimming last year, when she was promoted to the YMCA’s senior team. Since then, Maddie admits that she’s had little time for anything schoolwork and swimming. “I decided this year that if I’m as good as I am, and if I want to be better, then I have to set aside everything else, be at every practice, and not have to worry about any other sports,” she said.

She works so hard because she hopes to follow in the footsteps of her father. Kevin once held five school records at Colgate (he still holds the 100-meter butterfly) and  competed in the 1984 U.S. Olympic qualifiers.  “Even to make the Olympic qualifiers is a huge accomplishment,” Paige said. “That’s actually the next step for Maddie.”

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