Lawrence native Emma Reaney, foreground, competes for the USA in the 50M breaststroke Friday, July 10, at the World University Games in Gwangju. Reaney tied for 3rd place and a bronze medal.

Gwangju, South Korea ? Former Lawrence High swimmer Emma Reaney wanted to redeem herself at the World University Games in South Korea.

She was disappointed with her swim in the 100-meter breaststroke and was determined to make up for it in the 50 breaststroke on Friday.

She did just that, earning a bronze medal when she tied for third place in 31.11 seconds at the Nambu University Aquatics Center.

“I’m really, really excited because my 100 (breaststroke) didn’t go even close to according to plan,” Reaney said. “I’m pretty proud of myself that I was able to turn it around and get a medal.”

The University of Notre Dame graduate walked to the pool deck listening to rap artists Wiz Khalifa and Tech N9ne. She had finished fifth in the semifinals on Thursday and swam in the second lane.

When she traveled to the pool on Friday, she put any of the disappointment from the 100 breast behind her. She took 10th place in the 100 breast semifinals on Sunday and did not advance to the finals.

“I think just maintaining a positive attitude,” Reaney said of the difference between races. “The 50 is really easy to get excited for and I don’t really swim it all that often, so it was fun.”

Last December, Reaney represented the United States in the FINA world short-course championships in Doha, Qatar. At that meet, she took sixth in 50 breast, second place in the 200 medley relay, 10th in the 100 breast and 14th in the 200 breast.

Friday’s bronze was Reaney’s first international medal in an individual event and it gave her an early taste of her ultimate goal — representing her country in the Olympics. She also swam in the qualifying heat for the 4×100 medley relay, helping her team to an eventual bronze in that event.

“Oh my gosh, it has been so much fun,” Reaney said. “I love being here with people my own age. First of all, we all go through the same thing and understand each other. But I’m just really excited that it’s kind of the same format as the Olympics. Like there’s other sports and there’s a village, and I think it’s really good for us to prepare for next year.”

Reaney is training in Charlotte, North Carolina in preparation for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, working with the pro team SwimMac Carolina.

“It’s probably one of the most prominent pro teams in the country,” she said. “The head coach David Marsh and my college coach (Brian Barnes) are really good friends. I was there last summer to try it out and I ended up really liking it.

“I’m doing pretty much nothing but swimming until next summer.”

Outside of the pool in Korea, Reaney has enjoyed interacting with athletes from other countries.

“I see other people wanting our shirts and our pins and all that stuff,” Reaney said. “It really hits you that we’re the team to beat. It sounds so, like, lame and, like, rude, but we’re like the cool kids the on the block. It’s such an honor to be able to represent my country here.”

She bumped into the Kansas University men’s basketball team earlier in the week, who is also representing the United States at the World University Games.

“Yeah, I actually went to junior high with Evan Manning and have known Tyler (Self) since then, too,” Reaney said. “I’m really sad I haven’t gotten to go to a game. My dad got me a jersey and everything. Talked to coach (Bill) Self in line at the dining hall. It’s really cool being like, ‘Hey, Rock Chalk, I’m from Lawrence, too.'”

The next big event for Reaney is the U.S. National Championships in San Antonio, beginning on August 6.

But first, she’s celebrating her bronze medal, which felt even better than she imagined.

“It’s so exciting,” Reaney said. “I think I had an interview with the University of Notre Dame and they asked like what that kind of would mean to me. Just being able to contribute to the medal count for my country and to have my name on that list is such a huge honor, so I’m really excited.”