In less than a month, Christel Simms will push herself out of the water one final time.
Off will come the goggles and the gold and cardinal-colored swim cap she’s worn for the past four years.
She’ll dry off, much like she’s done the past 14 years, and give the swimming pool one last look.
A lifetime of memories, highlighted by the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, will flash before her.
And then, it’ll be over — just like that.
"I’m going to retire," Simms said Monday. "I’m going to hang up my cap and goggles after the NCAAs.
"I’ve had a great career. I can pretty much say I’ve done it all and I’m happy with the way it’s ending."
The USC senior will compete at the Pac-12 championships beginning today and end her illustrious career next month at the NCAA championships.
The Hawaii Hall of Honor member and four-time All-American is best known for competing in the Olympics when she became the seventh swimmer to represent the Philippines, finishing 41st in the 100-meter free and 47th in the 50-meter free.
"It was amazing — one of the greatest experiences of my life — and it definitely set me up perfect for college," Simms said.
If there’s a number she’s trying to avoid over the next month, it’s three.
The USC women’s swim team is currently ranked No. 1 in the country but has finished third three years in a row at the Pac-12 championships and two years in a row at NCAAs.
That’s a trend Simms hopes to end.
"This year I think is different now because our team dynamic is different," Simms said. "I don’t think we’re putting the pressure on ourselves as we have in years past and are instead going to try and have fun with it."
Simms is entered in six individual events, but can only score in three of them. She will also participate in four relays.
She has yet to crack the top 10 in any individual event at the Pac-12 championships since her freshman season, but competed on three top-10 relay teams at the 2012 NCAAs, including the 400-yard medley relay in which the Trojans finished second.
Although they are the final two meets of her career, the goal is to get USC its first women’s conference title since 1985 and first national championship since 1997.
"When we go in there and race, we’re only trying to beat the person next to us," Simms said. "Times for us almost don’t even matter because we just want to get our hands to the wall first — that’s how it is with this team."
Whatever happens, Simms is ready for the next chapter of her life.
Her biggest concern is finding a new hobby.
"(Swimming) is all I’ve really done for the past 14 years, so who knows, I’ll have to try surfing or something," Simms said. "There’s some sort of relief, but at the same time I know I’m really going to miss it."
After the Pac-12 meet in Federal Way, Wash., Simms will represent USC for the final time at the NCAAs on March 21-23 in Indianapolis.
"I have a lot of passion about being a Trojan, and ever since I was recruited here, I’ve loved it," Simms said. "It’s been the right college for me and I honestly think we have a chance (to win it all) this year."
