Shawn Hoffman Senior Profile

DURHAM, N.C.- The Duke men's swimming and diving team closed out its regular season last weekend with meets against UNC and Clemson. The team will not compete again until the ACC Championships in late February. Recently, GoDuke.com sat down with senior diver Shawn Hoffman to learn more about the North Tonawanda, N.Y., native.

GoDuke.com: What TV shows do you keep up with?
Shawn Hoffman: I don't really follow a lot of shows. I'm more of an individual episode watcher. Right now I would say that I am following "Archer" and "Alcatraz".

GoDuke.com: Do you have any embarrassing music on your iPod?
SH: I'm not sure. I have a lot of oldies stuff from the 70s and 80s which some people might consider embarrassing but I'm a huge fan. Growing up with a brother 10 years older than me meant I had a lot of 80s music in my life even though I was born in the 90s.

GoDuke.com: What is your favorite movie?
SH: My movie collection is over 600 movies. I'd say I love comedies and two of my favorite comedies are "I Love You, Man" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall".

GoDuke.com: Do you have any superstitions or pre-meet rituals?
SH: Not really. My coach just said something to me the other day that really struck me that I will think about moving forward. He said, "Be ready for anything, anything might happen". That's kind of my new mantra going forward.

GoDuke.com: What is on your bucket list?
SH: I want to go base jumping which sounds crazy but I was a gymnast before and being a diver now, it seems really cool. I don't know if I'd have the courage to do it. If I had the chance I might.

GoDuke.com: What is the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome athletically?
SH: I had shoulder surgery my sophomore year and being out of the pool a lot and not being able to dive and compete was tough. You're always landing on your hands and your arms. Definitely coming back from that was tough and it made me appreciate the sport more and gave me a new perspective.

GoDuke.com: What is your favorite home-cooked meal?
SH: Thanksgiving dinner. Nothing beats turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. That is my favorite meal by far.

GoDuke.com: Can you cook? If so what is your favorite thing to cook?
SH: I'm not a good cook at all. I've burnt pasta by not putting enough water in. I'm not a good cook so I just stick to some pretty basic things.

GoDuke.com: What has been your favorite class at Duke?
SH: I'm an evolutionary anthropology major and I've loved every course I've taken for my major. I'm actually in a course right now called Orthopedic Biomechanics in which I already love the professor and love the topic. I want to do physical therapy so it is really relevant.

GoDuke.com: What has been your toughest class at Duke?
SH: Physics definitely. It is definitely the toughest conceptually. Organic Chemistry is also hard but I put a lot more effort into it because I enjoyed it. Physics was definitely harder for me because I didn't like it.

GoDuke.com: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
SH: I want to do physical therapy. I want to work at a big university and be around sports. I don't want my own practice, I want to hang around a big-time university and work with athletes and give back. Having gone through an injury myself, I know what it is like to have to come back.

GoDuke.com: Who has had the most impact on your life?
SH: My parents. Literally I wouldn't be here if not for them. They have really guided me throughout everything. No matter good times, or bad times, they have always supported me. I can't put it into words what they have done for me.

GoDuke.com: Describe Coach Drew Johansen in one word.
SH: Dedicated. He really gives 110 percent every day, whether it is with his Olympic level athletes or with us on the varsity level. He does a great job and genuinely cares about everybody and puts everything he has into it.

GoDuke.com: Who would you trade places with for a day?
SH: Coach K. It would be cool to see what its like to lead an elite university and an elite level program.

GoDuke.com: Who would be your dream date?
SH: Natalie Portman. No doubt.

GoDuke.com: What is your worst habit?
SH: Either procrastinating, which I guess is common amongst college students, or forgetting things. I have a great memory in the classroom but I leave stuff behind all the time. I lose things all the time.

GoDuke.com: Who would play you in a movie?
SH: Mark Wahlberg in "The Other Guys". That's my personality. He is a little over the top sometimes and a little overemotional at times. That's just how I am. I watched that movie and saw a little part of my personality in the character and I thought it was funny.

GoDuke.com: What is one thing you wish you could do?
SH: Write music. I love music but am not very musically gifted.

GoDuke.com: What is your favorite restaurant in Durham?
SH: Sushi Love. I had never had sushi before I came here.

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