“Some people are born wanting to accomplish something, and they’re never satisfied until they do so… they will do whatever it takes to get to the next level,” Nate Skirvin, assistant PMHS Swim Coach, said.
Dedication, grit and perseverance are three words to describe junior Carter Fuhrmann. On Dec. 20, 2025, Fuhrmann shattered the 100 backstroke school record with a time of 54.12, knocking off 2.17 seconds from his personal best and 0.60 seconds from the record that was standing since 2012.
This swim would have qualified Fuhrmann for Speedo Sectionals, a championship meet that is harder to qualify than state, but unfortunately Fuhrmann went a qualifying time in an unsanctioned and unobserved meet.
There are many requirements for a meet to be sanctioned. In the 2024-26 official USA Swimming Handbook under article 202.8 part 3A, “Minimum of one referee, one starter and two stroke and turn judge association officials working season-culminating championship meets and invitationals.”
Also, USA Swimming does not recognize IHSAA official times, due to these certain qualifications.
Marion County Championships only had a referee and starter. While Fuhrmann did get an official school record, he did not qualify for Speedo Sectionals, because it is an elite USA Swimming meet with strict qualification standards.
Fuhrmann did not let this error get his hopes down, instead he saw it as a challenge to break the record again at Sectionals. “It’s another chance to push myself in one of my favorite events.”
Fuhrmann does not want to settle with one record this season, “I hope to get the 500 record, 100 fly a few others,” he said.
During practices, Fuhrmann pushes not only the limits of himself but the limits of his teammates. “He is always helping his teammates with little details. He wants the best out of them and they all bounce off of each other’s energy,” Lauren Cox, head coach of PMHS Swim, said.
After Fuhrmann decides to put on his goggles one last time, he hopes to go into coaching. Fuhrmann wants to pass his knowledge down to the future generations while staying in the sport that he loves.
“I’ve done it my whole life and I can’t imagine a life without swimming,” Fuhrmann said.
