Among the more than 250 international students at Cal Lutheran, Madi Bodhidatta is right at home in the pool. With just two meets left before SCIAC Championships, the junior from Bangkok is racking up first-place finishes in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly (her specialty). The university's top swimmer, male or female, Bodhidatta is poised to compete in the NCAA Division III Championships for the second consecutive year. Already the program's record-holder in the 100 butterfly (57.30), the sports management major is within fractions of a second of the fastest times in the 50 and 100 free. Coach Barry Schreifels raves about his star swimmer: "She's amazing, an absolutely splendid athlete, and a fantastic student who's well-integrated into campus life. I'm incredibly thrilled to have her." 

Here are some questions to get to know Cal Lutheran's fastest fish:

Q: Who first taught you to swim and where did you learn?
A: A coach from the Royal Bangkok Sports Club

Q: What was the hardest adjustment coming from Thailand to Southern California?
A: Using forks to eat rice

Q: The thing your classmates are most surprised to learn about Bangkok
A: Bangkok is ranked No. 1 as the most visited city in the world since 2024 and the best place to retire.

Q: When you visit home, what is the one food or drink item you absolutely have to have?
A:  Mango sticky rice (What they have here isn't as good as the one back home.)

Q: Favorite place to grab a bite near campus
A: Pokeland

Q: Best course you've taken to date and who was the professor?
A: Communication for Managers with Dr. Nickl this past fall semester 

Q: Favorite city you've visited with your teammates
A: Santa Barbara with the girls

Q: Top 3 songs currently in rotation on your Spotify? (or Apple Music)
A: "Pink Pony Club," "Another Day in Paradise," "Dancing in the Flames"

Q: Do your friends/teammates have a nickname for you? What is it?
A: I used to be called "Maddog"

Q: What are your biggest goals for this season?
A: My biggest goal would be making the podium for an individual event at SCIAC and making Nationals again. Also, in tough trainings, I'm hoping to inspire the team to go beyond their limits in the pool. 

Q: What is your favorite thing about living in Southern California?
A: Randomly running into celebrities 

Q: Your favorite professional sports team is …
A: My dad's favorite team is Green Bay (Packers) so I support them as well

Q: The Olympic or professional athlete you most admire is …
A: Emma McKeon 

Q: Freshwater or saltwater?
A: Freshwater

Q: Early morning practice or late-night practice?
A: Early morning

Q: Hit the town or Netflix and chill?
A: Netflix and chill

Q: What app on your phone do you spend waaaaay too much time on?
A: TikTok

Q: What is your dream job after graduation?
A: Travel content creator

Q: If you could move to any city in the world after you graduate, where would it be?
A: Bangkok