As one of three sisters very close in age, Beata Nelson – birth name Elizabeth – revealed her personality early in childhood. 

It was this independent attitude – a necessity as the middle child – that ultimately led her parents to call her Beata (Bee-ta). 

It’s a nickname she’s embraced from the beginning and an identity that very much describes who she is as a person and swimmer.

“It’s a nickname, but it’s not really a nickname because it’s how everyone knows me; very few people know me as Elizabeth,” said Nelson, whose sisters Maddy and Sammy also swam. “There was only one year when I went by Elizabeth. Otherwise, it’s always been Beata longer than I can remember. It’s what I love.”

Nelson made good on her highly individualistic personality this summer when she was selected to compete against Australia in Duel in the Pool and stuck around for Australian nationals (short course) a week later. 

Prior to Duel, she just missed out on earning a spot on the U.S. National Team (third in the 200 IM and 100 fly at the Phillips 66 National Championships), but her swims (and times) Down Under erased that early disappointment to land her a spot on the National Team – her first. 

And while she admits to being somewhat of a late-bloomer (24) in long course circles, Nelson has always been a force in yards dating back to her stellar collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin. 

“I’ve always been lingering just outside of the National Team – just missing the National Team – and part of that is because Wisconsin didn’t have a long-course pool where we could train until recently,” she said. 

“When we got a new long-course pool the past year or so, my training changed. I’m still a yards swimmer at heart. For years, I lacked confidence, but I’m doing well now, so I see a strong future in long course, too.”

Having graduated in 2020 in the heart of the COVID pandemic, Nelson made the decision to keep swimming toward the 2021 Olympics despite not getting National Team funding.

She competed successfully on the World Cup circuit and for the International Swimming League (ISL) through the pandemic so she could keep training and swimming. 

Now that she’s on the National Team, she’s getting financial support and has the 2024 Olympic Trials and Paris Games in her sites. 

Making the team would fulfill a childhood dream she’s enjoyed but only until recently believed was possible.

Not bad for someone who didn’t enjoy swim team as a kid.

“(The conclusion of) my senior year at Wisconsin was right when Covid hit, so I feel like, in a way, everything was delayed in terms of my desire to be an Olympian,” said Nelson, whose dad, Andy, was a standout swimmer. “When [the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming] were delayed until 2021, that impacted my training, approach to competition, everything related to long course. But I know it impacted everyone. 

“Through it all, USA Swimming encouraged me to keep training and competing. I knew after Olympic Trials last summer that I was going to keep fighting and pursuing my dream. I decided then to give it another three years to 2024 and see where things take me.”

Whatever happens moving forward, Nelson said she knows that, unlike swimmers who competed 15 years ago, she’s grateful for the financial opportunities that exist today for her to keep chasing her Olympic dream. 

She plans to compete on the World Cup circuit this fall/winter, and although the ISL is on temporary hiatus, once it returns, she’ll once again compete there. 

She’s committed and ready to make the most of the opportunities before her.

“I’ve discovered the past couple of years (since graduating) that there’s a difference between being a college swimmer and professional swimmer,” said Nelson, a psychology major at Wisconsin who may decide to pursue a higher degree post swimming. “When you swim college, your coaches and teammates have expectations of you to be at practice, ready to compete in meets, etc. But when you’re a pro, you’re largely swimming for yourself, so if you don’t want to go to practice, you can say no. 

“As a pro, you have to wake up every day and choose to go to practice. The expectations now lie within you. I’ve always been so passionate about swimming, that I’m excited and eager to go to practice. I feel like I haven’t quite reached my potential yet, and I’ve got the next two years to prove that.”