ValleyCentral speaks with Shaine Casas' mom ahead of Olympic race

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Rio Grande Valley native Shaine Casas is just hours away from competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. But before he does, ValleyCentral spoke with his mother about what it took for Casas to make it to the world's largest stage.

Monica Epling, Casas' mother, is no stranger to the water herself and said Casas always had an innate calling for swimming.

Epling served in the U.S. Navy and said she was pregnant with Casas during her service — adding that some of her very first memories of Casas involve being in the pool. In a previous interview with ValleyCentral, Epling admitted that those closest to her know she had a tough pregnancy with Casas and it seemed that the only time she felt at ease was in the pool.

"Ever since he was in the womb, he loved the water," she said. "People think it's a bunch of bologna when I tell this story but people who knew me back then know how sick I was when I was pregnant and that I spent all my time, when I wasn't working, in the pool."

Epling said as a baby, Casas was fussy and seemed to calm down in the bath tub and pool.

"He just loved the water, and then when he started swimming, he just gravitated toward it," she said.

^{INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 20: Shaine Casas of the United States competes in a preliminary heat of the Men's 200m Individual medley on Day Six of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on June 20, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)}

Since his very first days, Epling said Casas was destined for greatness with a determination to challenge himself and be the best.

On Thursday, Casas will have the opportunity to represent the Rio Grande Valley and the entire nation as he races for gold.

When asked what it means to Epling that her son gets to represent the stars and stripes, she replied, "It's always meant so much to me. I come from a military family. I was in the military. My father, my husband, my brother, just generations. And my kids are in. So, in one way shape or form we've all represented and my kids that are in couldn't be more proud of him."

In our first interview with Epling, we asked if she was planning on going to Paris to watch Casas compete. At the time, she said the expenses were just not feasible. Since then, the Valley has rallied behind Casas and his mother to fund her trip to Paris.

"People were more than willing to do whatever they could, telling friends and family to donate to contribute and even donating their time by making signs," Epling said. "It's meant a lot."

In her first few days in France, Epling said she is grateful for the opportunity to watch her son compete at the highest level and blessed to have so much support from her hometown. In the days leading up to the race, Epling has toured the Eiffel Tower and taken some time to soak in the history of the city and the history her son is making.

"I was here by myself until today, so I spent a lot of time reflecting and being a little too emotional for my comfort," she said.

She said as she was touring the city, she saw a huge building that had French swimmer Leon Marchand on it, and she pretended that it was Shaine.

In 2020, Casas did not qualify for the Olympic team in Tokyo. Epling said that allowed him time to refocus not only in the water but in his personal life.

"Sometimes people have to fall hard before you have to reevaluate and figure out what it is that was that one obstacle or a couple of obstacles that I guess just didn't click and make those changes so that you can adjust and reach that goal," she said.

Epling said the difference between Casas' maturity and focus at age 20 is completely different from him at 24.

"His priorities are different, the focus is just razor sharp and he's always been very determined but there was just this drive, just something different that clicked and only he knows what that was," she said.

Epling said Casas comes from humble beginnings, learning to swim and compete in the Valley. She took the opportunity to advocate for other athletes in the Valley who have the potential to do what Casas has accomplished.

"There are so many kids there that have the talent but so little money is given to giving them the opportunity for the resources and for different sports because all the money goes to specific sports," she said. "That's been a fight that I have had since my kids have been swimming. Since they've been 4. So, for 20 years."

Her message to Valley athletes is to dream big the way Casas did.

"He started with a dream, but you have to back that up with work, and that's all you can do," Epling said. "I always told my kids, 'the only person who can beat you is you.' If you go in there with the mentality that you're not gonna win, you're not. So, you go in there saying you're gonna win and you're gonna win."

With only a handful of Valley natives ever making it to the Olympics, Casas is making history and the world knows it.

Local businesses and groups are throwing watch parties for the Valley native to show their support and cheer Casas on come race time. Epling said some of Casas' friends who serve in the military are being allowed to watch his race on the jumbo screen at their bases.

"[They are allowing them] because one of their Marines has a brother on the U.S. team," she said.

As for race day, Epling said she does not know what to expect, but she knows that what she has felt up until this point has been powerful.

Casas has the support of the country and the 956 rallying behind him.

To watch Casas' race the 200 meter individual medley, tune in to USA at 4 a.m. Thursday. If Casas qualifies for the next race he will compete at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and he can be seen on NBC 23.