One Last Roar: Tamara Mukulu, Swimming and Diving/Track & Field

"One Last Roar" is a series that will recognize the accomplishments of the senior student-athletes at Mount Holyoke College graduating during the 2020-21 academic year. From now until May, read about our senior student-athletes as they reflect on their careers as members of Lyons Nation. Make sure to check out Mount Holyoke College Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see photos of their top memories with their teammates over the past four years.

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Senior Tamara Mukulu (Nairobi, Kenya), a Sport and Business Studies major is a dual-sport swimming and diving and track and field student-athlete at Mount Holyoke College who will graduate at the completion of the Spring 2021 semester.

Mukulu contributed to a top-10 finish in the 400 freestyle relay in the 2020 New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship in a time of 3:49.57. In November 2018, Mukulu collected NEWMAC Women's Co-Swimmer of the Week Honors after helping the Lyons in a dual-meet victory over Westfield State, earning a pair of individual titles in the 50 Y Free and 50 Y Fly. In track and field, Mukulu earned multiple top-10 finishes at the NEWMAC Championships including a seventh-place finish in the 400m dash in 2019 in a time of 1:01.28, which is a fourth-best 400m performance in school history. Mukulu also collected a fifth-place finish in the 4x400m relay in 2018. Mukulu qualified for the 2018 New England DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 4x400m relay where she aided the team in a top-15 finish. Mukulu participated in the U.S. Olympic Committee FLAME Program in 2019 and the NCAA Career in Sports Forum in 2020. Mukulu served as a swimming and diving representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in the Fall 2020 semester.

From Head Mount Holyoke Swimming and Diving Coach, Dave Allen:

"Tamara has been a great team member. In the water, she was one of our fastest sprinters. On the deck, Tamara was a leader by example. Tamara was always willing to help out before and after practice. I have also worked with Tamara in the Sport Pedagogy class and developed her self-created major Sports and Business Studies. Tamara was a dedicated student and was a great addition to the CBL component in the class. Tamara had to overcome a few hurdles to develop the Sports and Business Studies offering but she was tenacious in working through the requirements to find the classes that would fit the major. I have missed working with Tamara in the water this year and look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in the future."

From Head Mount Holyoke Cross Country and Track and Field Coach, Chris Kibler:

"Tamara has made a positive impact on the outdoor track and field team since her first year and has always been willing to work exceptionally hard. She has battled nagging injuries and put in extra practice time when juggling a Five College-heavy course curriculum. Her outstanding effort has earned her the fourth-best 400m time in school history as well as top-10 performances in the 100m, 4 x 100m, and 4 x 400m. Her dominance in the long sprint events would undoubtedly have continued had she been able to compete her junior and senior seasons. Tamara will be greatly missed both as a teammate and as an impact student-athlete."

More about Tamara...

Overall, share a few sentences about your time as a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke College. How has your experience as a student-athlete helped develop you into the person you are today?

Everything I have accomplished thus far in college has taught me not to count myself out or sell myself shortly before trying. Coach Dave always tells us to "get comfortable being uncomfortable" and this is something that I have been pushing myself to do over the last four years. I realized that the only way I can continue to grow and accomplish great things is if I put myself in challenging situations and seek opportunities that might even seem to be out of my reach.

What were some of your favorite memories as a member of your team?

My favorite memories all trace back to Florida where we have our annual swim and dive training trip. For me, it is the most taxing week of the entire season! However, getting a break from the dark, miserable winter, and swimming out into the ocean with my teammates is always such a fun time and a great bonding experience.

What are your plans following graduation?

I am currently in the process of applying for jobs related to business/sports management so fingers crossed!

Who have been some of your biggest supporters during your time at Mount Holyoke College? This can be anyone (i.e. family, friends, professors, coaches, etc.)

I've had so much support and different groups of people have played such vital roles in my overall college experience:

My coaches and teammates have been my cheerleaders and helped me navigate so many obstacles!

My roommate(s) and day ones: Kuzie, Jennifer, and Caitlyn have been there since my first year and always given me so many reasons to smile during easy and challenging times.

My family has always made sure I have everything I need to be successful and constantly motivates me to do and to be better.

What is your favorite Mount Holyoke tradition?

I love Convocation because it's right at the beginning of the semester before things get too busy. It's also fun seeing everyone dress up in their class colors and I enjoy catching up with friends and teammates after a long break while soaking in the sun.

Any words of advice you have for the future student-athletes of Mount Holyoke College?

Seize every opportunity, make mistakes, learn from your mistakes and make amazing memories in the process.