David Walters takes off from the blocks in the prelims of the 800m free relay at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. (Photo by Al Bello//Getty Images)

BY MIKE WATKINS//Special Correspondent
David Walters is both haunted and driven by the monsters he chases and that chase him in his life.

In his nightmares, they take on the form of giant spiders or gorillas and pursue him. They often come close to catching him.

In the water, they assume the role of big, fast waves that lure him out and then envelope and take him under before returning him back to shore.

And while both of these keep him on his toes, what motivates Walters to face his perceived monsters every day in and out of the water is the same thing that pushes him forward as he reaches for his dreams.

“Racing motivates me most in swimming and life,” said Walters, a junior at the University of Texas and a member of the 2008-09 U.S. National Team “Being so eager to step up and race is what excites me to wake up every morning and give it my best shot.”

Now in the thick of NCAA competition for the Longhorns, Walters heads a strong nucleus of freestyle swimmers and gives Texas a legitimate shot at a National title.

Winning his first NCAA title last March in the 200y freestyle and posting a top-five finish in the same event earlier this summer at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials put him in a strong position for his first Olympics. In Beijing, he swam prelims of the 800m freestyle relay and cheered his teammates on as they won gold and set a world record in the finals.

His gold medal is one of his most cherished possessions because it represents all the hard work he put in to reach his goals. His 2008 accomplishments give him an abundance of self-confidence that he is now taking with him through the collegiate season and into 2009 where he intends to be a factor at World Championship Trials next summer.

“I've learned that with hard work and confidence, I am able to achieve anything,” said Walters, who also won gold as a member of the 800 freestyle relay at 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. “Being at the Olympics was a very special experience for me because I've always wanted to do something for my country. As for the gold medal, it's one of my most remarkable achievements, but I intend to press on for more success.”

Following the Olympics, Walters and his dad, Wayne, took a father-son vacation to Costa Rica. Both being avid surfers (David started surfing with his dad in second grade), they took to the water right away and hit some powerful and somewhat life-threatening waves.

“The waves had good size and had long lines,” said Walters, who originally swam to get stronger for surfing. “I paddled into one of these monsters, and as the wave started to barrel, I over-stalled and was sucked into the white water. The wave pushed me down against the ocean floor for a long time – long enough for me to realize that I almost drowned. It was my strong swimming that brought me back to the surface.”

Along with his father and mother, Susan, both of whom Walters has always looked to for guidance and as role models, he holds his former Coast Guard club coach Jack Bierie as one of his greatest inspirations.

“Jack has been through so many injuries and yet he still is on the move,” said Walters, who joined Coast Guard as a high school freshman after his first club folded. “One of the things that I admire about Jack is that he has taught me that I can always do better and to challenge myself. He's taught me to be a man and has given me discipline and courage to accomplish my goals. He is also my friend.”

Walters also looks to older sister, Gailey, with high esteem not only because she's been one of his biggest supporters but also because she's motivated him to be the best person and swimmer he can be.

“Gailey is the best sister a brother could ever have. I owe about 95 percent of my success to her,” Walters said. “Whenever I am stressed out with a bad swim or an awful test score, I can call her up on the phone and within five minutes I'm able to get back up on my feet and try again. Without her, I would be nothing.”