Pine Creek’s Madison Mintenko: Chasing Greatness

When the 2025 Colorado High School Activities Associations’ Swimming and Diving State Championships take place next week, all eyes will be on Pine Creek’s Madison Mintenko. The 5A state championships will take place on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 6-7, with the 4A meet scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8. The 3A championships will be Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 10-11. All three meets will take place at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton. 

AURORA – Pine Creek’s Madison Mintenko is swimming after legends.

Entering her senior year as a three-time defending champion in both the 200 free and 500 free, she has the chance to do something only few have done in the history of Colorado high school swimming: go undefeated at the state level in all eight individual events.

The only people to do that in girls swimming are former Big 10 swimmer Anna Trinidad and five-time Olympic Gold Medalist Missy Franklin. Trinidad won four-straight 200 IM and 100 breast titles for Cheyenne Mountain from 1998-2002, while Franklin captured gold in five different events; the 100 back (2010, 11, 12), 50 free (2010, 11), 200 free (2012), 200 IM (2013) and 500 free (2013).

“I’m really grateful that I get to be among those names of all these people who have set the precedent for what athletes nowadays are trying to achieve,” Mintenko said. “And I think that being one of those people gives me hope for the future, knowing that things like that have happened in the past.”

That future certainly appears to be a bright one. Mintenko is tied as Swim Clouds No. 1 ranked recruit in the nation, and is officially signed to swim collegiately at the University of Virginia, a powerhouse in the collegiate ranks.

“The dominance Virginia has shown at the NCAA women’s championships are pertinent points to show it’s not only a great program, but a great family,” Mintenko said. “I’m super excited to be a part of that. And I love the academics and stuff as well, that is really important to me.”

Becoming the state record holder in so many events, the No. 1 recruit in the nation and a scholarship to swim at one of the premier destinations in the country of course don’t come without an incredible amount of hard work, determination and talent.

Along with that talent comes high expectations. When Mintenko enters a competition she’s expected to win. Winning has become so routine for her that her coach Kent Nelson at Pine Creek made a comment that if you were to make the perfect swimmer in a lab, nine times out of 10 it would come out looking like Mintenko.

As a coach, getting the opportunity to coach someone who has those high expectations is of course a big privilege.

“It’s definitely a career highlight to have anybody of Madison’s caliber on our team,” Nelson said.  “We have a lot of girls that are kind of waiting in the wings ready to step up and take that spot, but Madison has definitely brought a level of leadership to the team that has helped us in every step.”

Often times, when great competitors are brought up, along with their work ethic and talent, their leadership is mentioned as well.

That was no different for Mintenko. When Nelson first became the coach of the team during her sophomore year, that was one of the first things he noticed.

“She definitely stepped up and really said ‘this is where we want to go,’” Nelson said. “This is how we’re going to do it junior year as we chase back-to-back state titles and she leads the team to that setting, breaking state records in the process. And then this year just really, everybody talks about senioritis and being ready to be done, but for athletes, it’s a little tougher. They’re really balancing a lot of different things, school applications, scholarship and then in Madison’s case, you throw in the national team for USA, swimming, travel meets and everything else.”

That experience Mintenko got on the USA National Team not only helped her in regard to her leadership, but helped her meet some of the best swimmers from around the country.

That coupled with a chance to go to Indianapolis for the 2024 Paris Olympic Swimming Trials gave her some experiences she had never had before.

“It was great being in a football stadium,” Mintenko said. “I’ve never swam in a pool that large, but I think that I had a lot of great leadership leading up to it, and it kind of just felt like a regular home meet for me, just because I had been prepared the correct way. And so it was super fun. It was super nice to have a lot of family around the Indiana area, and they got to come in and watch me compete. I had a lot of old friends and coaches come and watch. And then, of course, all of the swimmers that I’ve met through my Team USA adventures were a great experience, as well.”

Those adventures will certainly give her confidence as she continues to chase her dreams of one day standing on an Olympic Podium. Dreams that started when she was just 10 years old and fell in love with the art of swimming.

Although Mintenko must first set her eyes on her senior CHSAA State Championships, and then a career as a Cavalier, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics loom just in the distance.

With her parents by her side, some great coaches in her corner and a hunger to be the best, who’s to say Madison Mintenko won’t be the next great Colorado athlete?

“I think I find a lot of my inspiration through my parents, who have backgrounds in swimming,” Mintenko said. “I find a lot of inspiration through them, and they are also incredibly wise. Even though the times have changed drastically, they still, too, tend to know exactly what they’re talking about when it comes to swimming. And they’ve also just really been there to support me. I love being able to come home every day and hear their insights about my life and their life and what they’re going through.

“Because I always tell myself, ‘this is their first time living too, like this is their first time going through whatever they’re going through.’ I’ve met and talked to people who are just like steps above me, a lot of like, Olympians that I got to meet, and future Olympians I’m sure that I have met, are totally like big inspirations for me. And I’m definitely kind of itching at their feet, for their spots, and I think they know that. And I think I’m just really excited for the future and what that holds for everyone.”