Click to the right to see a special interview with NAU swimmer Kimber Morelli.

Check out the video interview with NAU swimmer Kimber Morelli by Lumberjack sports writer Brandon Smith for Jacked-Up.

Kimber Morelli is a senior swimmer at NAU. She is a two-time All-WAC Award winner, has earned two Golden Eagle Scholar Awards as a freshman and junior, and was named to the Academic All-WAC team her junior year. She has won and placed in the top ranks at various swimming competitions throughout her collegiate career. She sat down with The Lumberjack to discuss her career, along with meeting an Olympic star.

Joe Jirele / The Lumberjack

The Lumberjack: [We heard you] met Michael Phelps. What was it like?
Kimber Morelli: I met him about five or six years ago. He was training at a pool in Phoenix after his first Olympics. He’s a very serious and thoughtful guy.

LJ: What hobbies and activities do you like to do outside of swimming?
KM: I love to run, play Ultimate Frisbee and hike. I usually will hike in Sedona or on Camelback Mountain.

LJ: You’re an exercise science major. Tell us something that the average person wouldn’t know [about] your field of study.
KM: It’s heavy in physiology and not just doing some random exercise or stretching. It requires more work than you would assume.

LJ: What kind of music do you listen to?
KM: I like Red Hot Chili Peppers and older bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin. I’m not so into hard rock, like the guys who scream in death metal.

LJ: Swimming-wise, what’s your favorite stroke?
KM:  The butterfly — it’s what I was recruited to do up here. I’ve been very successful in the 200-meter race over my career with the butterfly.

LJ: Video games?
KM: I love Guitar Hero; I can’t play a real guitar, however.

LJ:  The World Cup is coming up. Are there any countries you’ll be following?
KM:  I love soccer, and I’ll be following team Italy because my family is Italian.

LJ: Are you the fastest swimmer on your team?
KM: Hardly.

LJ: What attracted you to Flagstaff when you were deciding where to attend college?
KM: I love the snow and the city in general. I prefer the small-town atmosphere where it’s low key, but you can still party.

LJ: What question would you want to ask your teammates?
KM: What motivates you to get up at 5:30 in the morning for practice?