1 What did you get out of World University Games, where you won silver medals in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, and gold on the 400 Medley relay?
Rebecca: Mostly, I had a really great time. It was an awesome experience for me. That was my first National Team (trip) so I didn’t know what to think going into it. Everyone was awesome. Winning medals for the U.S. was an added bonus.

2 Where are you looking to improve now?
Rebecca: We’re trying a different kind of training now for me, because obviously I just started college at USC. I just started weights. I’ve never done weights before, so I’m trying to be stronger overall, and stronger in the water.

3 What is the key to being a good breaststroke swimmer?
Rebecca: I think breaststroke is one of those strokes where it is really hard to pick one way to do it. I know my stroke is different from a lot of other people’s. Many people have told me (my stroke) is so weird they don’t understand how I can move. You have to work with what your body is able to do.

4 What’s it like swimming for USC and coach Mark Schubert?
Rebecca: It’s absolutely amazing. I’m having the time of my life. I have one of the best coaches in the world. It’s great to have such a fun team. I’m excited to represent USC.

5 Are you a big USC football fan? What’s it like being there now, and is the football team’s success good in a way for the swim team?
Rebecca: It’s definitely getting USC’s name out there even more. As far as being a fan, I enjoy it, but I don’t understand (laughs) football 100 percent. The game this weekend was a lot of fun. It’s definitely something to do on Saturday.

6 Who is a USC teammate you enjoy and why?
Rebecca: It’s hard to pick just one. They are all so great. They have all welcomed me into the team, and all the other freshmen, too. To be able to swim with such great people – you look over, and you are racing someone with great experience.

7 How did you end up at USC, since you are from New Jersey, and what’s been the biggest challenge in terms of adjusting for you – and how tough is it to balance school and swimming and everything else that comes with starting college?
Rebecca: It’s a lot different, the whole atmosphere, but I like it a lot. I feel very comfortable in this environment. The biggest thing going away to college is just not being around your parents as much. That’s the biggest adjustment for me, living away from home. As far as college, it is a little bit different. Your whole schedule is different (from high school). You are in control of what classes you take. It’s difficult, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I imagined it would be something harder.

8 Who is a WUG teammate who had an influence on you, and why?
Rebecca: Again, there were so many. Everyone really was great. Caroline Bruce is someone I got to know better. We roomed together. I knew her a little before, having raced her in the 100 and 200 (breaststroke), so she influenced me a lot.

9 There are some fast young breaststrokers right now. Jessica Hardy was phenomenal at World Championships, and you won two breaststroke silvers at WUGs. What do you think is up with that?
Rebecca: I don’t know why it is. That’s a mystery, I guess. I think it’s a good thing because it’s bringing more attention to the stroke. Jessica did great. We have different techniques, though.

10 Your parents both immigrated to the U.S.  How did that shape you?
Rebecca: Both of my parents are Hungarians, but they lived in Romania before coming here. I took growing up in that culture for granted, definitely, because I didn’t realize what I had until I got older. The way we lived was definitely different. I’d notice that when I went to a friend’s house. Our family was just so close. It’s like a whole different environment, and I’m glad we were so close. I’m very fortunate with my family, and my parents. They’ve been very supportive of me, but never pushed me.

11 How do you deal with the pressure at big meets, like WUGs, or World Championship Team Trials?
Rebecca: Going into a meet, I just kind of try to keep my confidence high and tell myself that I can be as good as the people I’m racing with, and that I am one of the fastest. But I definitely get really nervous before the race. Sitting in the ready room is the worst part, waiting to swim. I do enjoy it from the moment I get up on the blocks.

12 Were you competitive with your sister, Rita, who swims for Texas A&M?
Rebecca: We swam different strokes. We only swam the IM together. She swam the backstroke, and I swam the breaststroke. But what was great was that when we swam in high school together, she pushed me to go to practice everyday. To have someone who is going through it with you can really be a big help.

13 What was the hardest part about choosing a college?
Rebecca: Mixing the balance of swimming and academics. It had to have a really good swimming program but good academics as well. I think I made a good choice!

14 If you could take off for anywhere this weekend, where would you go, and what would you do?
Rebecca: Whoa…hmm…right now I would have to say I would take a vacation and go see my parents, who just moved to Sedona, Arizona. So I’d really like to go there.

15 What’s a game you liked playing with your friends when you were younger?
Rebecca: When I was younger, we had our group of friends in the neighborhood, and we used to do a lot of running around – nothing specifically, just really being active. We also swam in our neighbor’s pool. I was always an outdoor kid.

16 Who is an Olympian – from any era – you’d like to train with, and what would you ask that person?
Rebecca: I definitely would pick a breaststroker, just because I could train breaststroke. Amanda Beard would be an obvious choice, because she’s a 200 breaststroker. I’d try and learn from her. But as far as what I’d ask her, I’d probably ask her how she dealt with being a young Olympian. I think it’s amazing that she made the team when she was so young, and I think it’s even more amazing that she’s going strong now. She’s incredible.

17 Who is someone famous you’ve seen or met in L.A., and who is someone else you’d like to meet?
Rebecca: Well, I don’t his name, but we just saw someone tonight at dinner, some guy from the movies, but I don’t know who he was or what movie he was in. Actually, we haven’t seen a lot of famous people. Nick Lachey (Jessica Simpson’s husband) was in our athletic center the other day, but I didn’t get to see him. My roommate saw him and told me all about it. Actually, though, I’m not really big on the whole movie and actor and celebrity thing.

18 What did it mean to win your first national title, in the 200 breaststroke, at the ConocoPhillips Summer National Championships?
Rebecca: That was definitely one of the best moments of my swimming career so far. I’d been hanging around second, third or fourth place for a few years now. I was so confident going into the race. I said to myself, “It’s about time. You really need to win one.” It just felt really good to finally do it, and my time was good, too, which made it that much better.

19 What’s a unique skill or hobby you have – perhaps something only your close friends and family might know about you?
Rebecca: I can knit a little bit. I haven’t done it in a while, but I don’t have too many hobbies right now. I’m trying to learn the guitar, but I don’t have the time to give to it right now. I do have one in my room. That’s a hobby, I guess, learning on my own how to play guitar.

20 What’s it like being somewhat famous now and giving autographs?
Rebecca: I definitely don’t view myself as famous. I don’t get many autograph requests. I’m still like, “Are you sure you want my autograph? Isn’t there somebody else you’d rather get?” I love to give it to them, but it’s weird to think about me as being the person someone would want an autograph from.