He hasn’t even lived in this country for a year yet, but Andrzej Dubiel can already see many… He hasn’t even lived in this country for a year yet, but Andrzej Dubiel can already see many differences between his home in Dzierzonlow, Poland, and his new home in Pittsburgh.

For one thing, he has noticed that people here are able to express themselves more freely, as opposed to a much more conservative Poland. The food in Poland is healthier, even when it comes to McDonald’s hamburgers, which he says are made out of healthier meat there. Even the dress is different.

“Here, sometimes people look like they rolled out of bed five seconds ago,” Dubiel said, chuckling.

The most important difference for Dubiel, though, is probably the change in his swimming.

“In Poland, I was in the water three times more than I am here, but here, we are more technical,” Dubiel said. “I’ve improved my swimming without swimming as much.”

Dubiel may only be a freshman, but he’s making a big impact for the Panthers’ swim team. He’s been part of a winning event at each dual meet this season.

That’s not to say it hasn’t been challenging. Leaving home for college when you’re 18 is, in itself, difficult. But he left home for a college that’s thousands of miles away.

Dubiel started swimming when he was 8 years old because of his father, who was also a swimmer. He started swimming in clubs, similar to those like the YMCA programs, and did so until five years ago when he left home to go to a high school six hours away for swimming.

Dubiel describes the School of Sport Championship, his high school, as “the best high school in Poland.” His school placed a lot of emphasis on sports, which is evident from its name, especially swimming and hockey.

In his time at the School of Sport Championship, Dubiel was coached by the Polish Olympic team’s coach, whom, he said, he wouldn’t mind being coached by again in the Olympics.

“Competition in Poland is pretty solid,” Dubiel said. “But I’m not going to give up. Impossible is nothing.”

He accomplished a lot in high school. He was a member of the Polish national team, a multi-medalist and a winner of the 400-meter backstroke at the Polish Junior Championships.

Despite all of that, Dubiel said his greatest moment in swimming was when he won a silver medal competing at the European Junior Championships as part of the 400-medley relay team.

“That was my first big international meet,” Dubiel said. “There were a lot of good swimmers from all over Europe.”

When he left all of that, things really started to change, especially when it came to the sport he loves.

In Europe, pools are measured in meters as opposed to American pools, which are measured in yards. It might not seem like that makes a big difference, but when you’re in the water, it does.

Take for instance Dubiel’s favorite event, the 400 backstroke. In Poland, he swam 400 meters and was done. Here, he would have to swim almost 438 yards to go the same distance.

According to Pitt swimming coach Chuck Knoles, that has been Dubiel’s biggest challenge.

“He said to me, ‘It seems like I just get up [out of the water] and start swimming, and I have to turn again,'” Knoles said.

Knoles has also had to ask him to step up much more than he had to in Poland.

“Learning how to compete week after week is a tough thing for anyone to learn how to do,” Knoles said. “In clubs you only have to peak once a year; in college, we have to ask them to step up week after week. That’s hard to do when you’re running, lifting and coaches are beating you up in the pool.

“He definitely acted like a freshman when he got here, but he’s gotten much better.”

The camaraderie and teamwork he has experienced here has certainly helped.

“[In Poland], people are like wolves to each other, that they want to get you down,” Dubiel said. “The coach said every day, ‘I’m going to kill you today.’ It helps when people are around to support you. It’s amazing because you push yourself to the limit.”

His teammates aren’t the only people around him offering support. Dubiel says he knows about 50 people from home that came to college in the United States because of the opportunity to compete in sports while at the same time getting a good education.

“We call ourselves the ‘Polish Migrant Club,'” Dubiel said. “It’s funny that at meets especially, I know more people than other people on our team. I made a good decision. I’m glad to be here.”