WASHINGTON - When Zuilda Nwaeze started swimming, the color of the water didn't matter to her.
 
"The first memory I have that started in a pool was actually when I was about 4 or 5," Nwaeze said. "My aunt had this pool in her backyard that had just been filled and the chemicals were a little off, so the water was green.
 
"As a little kid, I didn't really care. So, I went playing in the pool and there was this frog at the bottom. I swear up and down that it hopped onto my cheek, stole my dimple, and hopped away. Once I came out of the pool, I was down to one dimple on my left cheek and told that story to my whole family." 
 
While it may be a challenge to separate myth from fact, there's one thing that can't be debated: Nwaeze is consistently exiting the pool with impressive performances and records for the Howard University women's swimming program.
 
The missing dimple belongs to everybody who can't stop smiling after watching Nwaeze's consistently brilliant performances. 
 
A freshman psychology major from Columbia, Maryland, Nwaeze has adjusted the Howard record books as she currently holds the school standards in the 500-meter freestyle (5:06.13) and 1,000-meter freestyle (10:42.36).
 
She's just getting started for the Bison. Nwaeze and Howard return to the water when it competes in the Northeast Conference (NEC) championship meet in Geneva, Ohio beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
 
With a bright future ahead of her, she is having a blast in and out of the pool.
 
"The transition to collegiate swimming has been challenging both mentally and physically," Nwaeze said. "It has been hard getting used to a whole new environment with new people as well. It's like when I start to get comfortable and then something else comes and knocks me right off my feet."
 
Nwaeze has been named NEC Rookie of the Week three times and NEC Swimmer of Week on Nov. 2. She's established herself as one of the best swimmers in the conference. In her first career meet for the Bison, the Battle at the Burr, Nwaeze took gold in the 200 freestyle (1:54.92) and finished third in the 100 butterfly (58.61). She was a member of the 200 freestyle relay team, placing first with a time of 1:37.57.
 
Nwaeze took gold in the 200-yard butterfly (2:09.31; 2nd in NEC) against American. The next day against VMI, she added two more gold medals to her inventory after swimming 5:12.52 in the 500-yard freestyle (3rd in NEC) and 10:42.36 in the 1000-yard freestyle (2nd in NEC). 
 
"The desire to win has really helped me throughout this season," Nwaeze said. "I have never been super competitive but with all of the dual meets, I want to do the absolute best I can to score points for my team and win. Along with this newfound competitiveness, the intense training has been a major element in my ability and confidence.
 
"I start every practice feeling terrible and end it feeling even worse, which is more positive than it sounds. Knowing that I get through tough practices makes me more confident for the meets. Also, this is the first time that I have had an established weight room program and it's definitely making me stronger both in and out of the water."
 
Nwaeze is enjoying being a member of the Howard women's swimming program.
 
"My three role models are Zaylie Elizabeth Thompson, Michaela Spears, and Alana Josey," Nwaeze said. "It's hard to find the right words to explain how much I look up to those three women even though they aren't much older than me. They are always putting in the work and when everyone else is dying in the middle of a set, those three are still going strong and getting faster.
 
"Their work ethic both in the pool, during dryland, and in the weight room makes me so excited to train. On top of being hard-working, they are always so encouraging and not afraid to speak their minds. As a woman in sports, I find that so admirable."
 
Nwaeze has also inherited that same strength from her mother, Filipa Gomes, was born in São Nicolau, Cabo Verde, and then migrated to Portugal when she was 4 and came to Chelsea, Massachusetts when she was 9 years old. Her father, Chibuike, was born in Washington, DC., and lived in Rochester, New York until he was about 4 years old before he and Nwaeze's grandparents went back to live in Lagos, Nigeria for the remainder of his childhood.
 
Thanks to her mom, Nwaeze and her brother, Obinna, learned to swim when they were two. She's been swimming competitively since she was five.
 
Named after her grandmother, who was born in São Nicolau, Cabo Verde, Zuilda means courageous, logical, and compassionate.  Her middle name, Ndidi, is Igbo Nigerian and it means patience. Her last name, Nwaeze (the n is silent) is Igbo Nigerian as well, and it means Prince.
 
Add all that up and you have a special bundle of joy who lights up the spaces she enters.
 
"My role model outside of swimming is definitely my mother," Nwaeze said. "My mother is an intelligent, courageous, and witty woman who always takes care of business while making time to be there for everyone else. Her personality, generosity, and love have without a doubt made me into the woman I am today. I am forever grateful for her, her wisdom, and the way she always tells me the truth whether I want to hear it or not."
 
Away from the pool, Nwaeze loves to read. Sometimes, she'll read the new Tik-Tok recommended book. She loves listening to music and her current go-to is Doechii. She is enjoying watching "New Girl" on Netflix.
 
Nwaeze believes her purpose is to be at Howard.
 
"I chose Howard University because I wanted to get the best education possible in a place where I know the people around me truly want me to succeed," Nwaeze said.  "After the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, it became increasingly clear that I wanted and needed to be around people that look and think like me.
 
"It was really draining, hurtful, and scarring to go online and see people who I once thought were my close friends debating whether or not my life mattered and/or making cruel jokes about these unfortunate murders. It became clear that an HBCU was the only option for me. From there, Howard University was the school for me because I knew I wanted to swim collegiately, and Howard is the only HBCU that still has a swim program. After talking to the coaches and visiting the school I felt a part of a family."