In the “big” city of Žilina, tucked inside the “tiny” country of Slovakia, BYU swimmer Emma Marusakova first dipped into the world of competitive swimming.
It wasn’t the most popular sport back home. Soccer, basketball and ice hockey dominated, but she was drawn to the water from the start.
“Slovakia is a really tiny country,” Marusakova said with a laugh. “I met a couple people here and they still think it’s Czechoslovakia until now.”
While her friends chased pucks and balls, Marusakova chased lane lines. As her times dropped and her ambition grew, she realized she wanted something bigger. By her junior year of high school, she decided to take her swimming career to the United States and compete at BYU.
The road to that decision was not simple. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic strained her relationship with the sport and affected her mentally and physically.
“Coming to the U.S. helped me a little bit to rebuild the relationship I had with swimming,” she said.
But rebuilding that relationship came with challenges in and out of the pool.
Marusakova quickly learned that training with the Cougars meant a new level of intensity. In Slovakia, she practiced daily, but on a more relaxed schedule. At BYU, she found herself waking up before sunrise for early-morning sessions, lifting weights, and returning for long afternoon practices.
“I also practiced every single day back home,” she said. “But we had practice only from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Here it’s waking up at 5 a.m. every other morning and then also having practice in the afternoon for another two hours. It was a lot in the beginning, but I got used to it.”
The transition to the United States was not just physical. Adjusting to life at BYU meant navigating a new academic system, a new training style, and a new language — all at once. But with steady support from coaches and teammates, she found her routine and rediscovered confidence in the water.
“The people and the coaches here made a huge difference for me,” Marusakova said. “I think the American athletic culture is more about the team — how the team supports you, how individuals support each other. It’s not really individualistic. This brought a different idea in my mind about swimming and how you can perceive the things or successes you achieve.”
As she grew more comfortable with the culture and demands of college swimming, her results began to reflect her growth. Her times dropped steadily, and she quickly became a key contributor for the Cougars.
“This is my fourth season swimming alongside Emma and she never ceases to amaze me with her grit and perseverance,” said senior captain Lily Flint.
Now in her final year, Marusakova holds BYU records in the 50 and 100 fly and ranks top 10 all-time in six other events. She also played a role in breaking three BYU program records last season.
UNBELIEVABLE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/0eUcuC0x0A
— BYU Swim and Dive (@BYUSwim_Dive) February 28, 2025
“She is a reliable swimmer no matter her condition and is one of the cultural backbones of this team,” Flint said. “I love watching her swim and I love being her teammate even more.”
As Marusakova prepares to close her BYU career, she hopes her journey stands as an example — proof that a girl from a small Slovak town can make an impact halfway across the world.
“This is something huge for my country and for my family in general,” she said. “I think I want to finish this season the best way I can and just be happy with everything I achieved.”