Radio-Television-Film Olympian dives into film
Radio-Television-Film Olympian dives into film
Erica Sullivan is competing to swim on the world’s highest stage this summer
When Olympic swimmer Erica Sullivan isn’t training in the pool, she swaps her swim cap for a director’s hat. As a radio-television-film junior, she said being a part of Moody College of Communication’s film program and the Texas Swimming and Diving team allows her to pursue the best of both her passions at The University of Texas at Austin.
Sullivan joined the U.S. National Swim Team at 16. Following her high school graduation, she spent the next few years focused on her Olympic training, participating in competitions such as the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Sullivan’s childhood dream of swimming at the Olympics felt within her reach.
Just months before starting at UT in 2021, Sullivan was in Tokyo competing at the 2020 Olympic Games — often considered one of the highest stages in the swim world — where she earned a silver medal in the 1500-meter freestyle.
Sullivan said the sport continues to provide her with a sense of peace. Although swimming tends to be an individual sport, the Texas team has given her with a sense of community. She doesn’t swim for bright lights or fame.
“Since starting college athletics, adding a whole team dynamic has made swimming become my safe haven,” Sullivan said.
Photo Courtesy of Texas Athletics
Photo Courtesy of Texas Athletics
Sullivan has always been interested in film, especially coming-of-age narratives by female filmmakers such as Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Emma Seligman’s “Bottoms.” The RTF program has shown her that she can combine her athletic experiences with her talents for storytelling. This year, she has particularly enjoyed taking the Women in Sports Media course with radio-television-film assistant professor Jennifer McClearen.
“There’s so many male-driven movies because men watch sports movies,” Sullivan said. “I would love to make a coming-of-age sports movie and really broadcast the experience of female athletes.”
“If I could write and direct for the rest of my life, I’d be the happiest person alive.”
As an aspiring filmmaker, Sullivan likes to be as hands-on in the production process as possible. From imagining storylines and creating shot lists to helping bring stories to life on set, she’s eager to get her feet wet in film. Sullivan is also pursuing a creative writing certificate in the College of Liberal Arts, hoping to strengthen her screenwriting skills.
“If I could write and direct for the rest of my life, I’d be the happiest person alive,” she said.
“Moody does a really good job of instilling how important connections are and how if you are willing to put yourself out there, talk and communicate, you can take your career and push it to whole new heights,” Sullivan said. “You can only go so far on your own.”
For her next stop, Sullivan is hoping to participate in the UTLA program in Spring 2025. She plans to use the determination she’s developed in her swim career to break into the film industry in Los Angeles.
“Moody does a really good job of instilling how important connections are and how if you are willing to put yourself out there, talk and communicate, you can take your career and push it to whole new heights,” Sullivan said. “You can only go so far on your own.”
Photo Courtesy of Erica Sullivan
Photo Courtesy of Erica Sullivan
Sullivan and her swimming teammates competed at the NCAA Championships in March, where they placed second. This week, she'll go to trials to see if she qualifies for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
“If I make the team, then I will go to Paris and do it all over again,” Sullivan said. “If not, I’m going to retire, hang it up and have a really fun summer, and try to experience life as a normal college student because I haven’t really been able to do that.”
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