Video: Swimmer Lia Neal Readies to Rep Brooklyn In 2012 Olympics

The U.S. Swim Team has a rich history at the Olympic Games, amassing nearly 500 medals since 1896. 17-year-old Brooklyn native Lia Neal is now a member of that elite group, having qualified in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. Half African-American and half Asian-American, Lia is just the second African-American female swimmer to make the Olympics and joins only a handful of Asian-American women to have accomplished such a feat. A product of Manhattan’s Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics swim team, Lia is a source of pride for many, and here, Life + Times takes a quick glimpse into her journey to London and beyond.

Follow Lia and her Olympic experience via @LiaNeal |#SwimBrooklyn.

All archival footage and photography provided by The Neal Family.