UC Davis swimmer Tea Austin recalls watching the '92 Summer Olympics in Barcelona on television as a teenager and thinking how much fun the swimming events looked. Given the chance, he knew then that he'd love to compete. Now as a college senior, Austin is finding that teenage dreams translate into adult hard work as he prepares for the August National Swimming Trials in Indianapolis, with hopes of joining the U.S. Olympic swimming team. "It's all a matter of diligence in training," says Austin, who works out each week for 20 hours in the pool and 10 hours of running and weight lifting to increase his strength. "The competition is fierce," he says, noting that there are only four openings for each event on the U.S. team. "And the top record holders have a lot riding on making the team in terms of sponsors, money and careers," he adds. Austin will compete in the 50-meter and 100-meter free style races and in the 100-meter backstroke event. After recovering from a career-threatening shoulder injury two years ago, he returned to win seven All-America swimming awards and a National Collegiate Athletic Association title in the 100-meter backstroke. With a dual major in international relations and social-and-organizational studies, Austin plans to work in the sports management field after graduating in mid-2001 and then has his eye on returning for a law degree. But, for the moment, he is focused on trimming a second or more from his 50-meter event so that he can place among the top 10 or 20 finalists at the Olympic trials. "Then they can send me home a happy person," he says.