Schallert: Men's Swimming Athlete of the Year

By Russell Bonvouloir
Corsair Staff Writer

May 28, 2008

Robert Schallert was named 2008 Student Athelete of the Year for men's swimming. (Photo by Marilyn Taylor/Corsair Staff)

Rising from the depths of emotional travesty, Robert Schallert’s road to Athlete of the Year was more like a gauntlet, with seemingly impossible obstacles at every turn.

Now 42, Schallert was bombarded with emotional and physical stress throughout his life, first when his parents passed away while he attended USC, and then years later when he had to undergo open heart surgery.

Schallert was forced to grow up faster than the average college student.

While most of us are still putting our lives together and relying on our parents’ help, Schallert had to step up to the plate and care for his developmentally challenged brother after his parents unexpectedly passed away.

Schallert met his wife after he left USC, and being the kind hearted person that he is, he stopped working to take care of his non-ambulatory mother-in-law, while his wife finished her doctorate in neuroscience.

Through Robert’s selflessness his wife was able to pursue her dream.

Still all was not well: Schallert’s mother-in-law had passed away, and after she passed Robert decided to restart his education at SMC, where he started to swim to keep his mind off the real world. “I had to overcome emotional and physical problems. I was depressed so I turned to swimming,” he said.

Schallert became an active swimmer, getting better over time.

Although things were improving, there was still one obstacle in store. In the spring of 2006 he had to have open heart surgery to replace an aortic valve.

“The most challenging decision, as far as the surgery goes was, what type of valve would I have to put in my heart?” Schallert said. “Where it is located they would have to stop my heart for 30 to 40 minutes. I’m just glad I wasn’t awake.” Schallert admits to being scared about his surgery as anyone would be.

After his surgery he tried out for the SMC swim team where he met coach Steve Contarsy.

Contarsy couldn’t have asked for a better athlete, “He brought a level of maturity to the team which is just as much an asset as his swimming. He wasn’t the strongest swimmer but he was always excited about learning new techniques,” Contarsy said.

Schallert is a distance swimmer covering the 500-yard freestyle, 1000-yard freestyle, and the 1650-yard freestyle.

His dedication to the team made him a stronger swimmer as well as person. He was someone that others could look up to, he was part of a team and he loved every part of it.

Schallert received the Athlete of the Year award in men’s swimming. He continues to swim for the Corsairs and is still actively involved with his brother. Overcoming extreme obstacles and never giving up, Robert Schallert is proof that nothing is impossible.