From local high school pools to the Beijing Olympic Games and back, Punahou's Christel Simms made several big splashes for Hawai'i swimming over the past four years.

It started her freshman year, when she won four gold medals at the state championship meet, including record-breaking times in the 200-yard freestyle and 200 medley relays. Simms won four more golds as a sophomore, with individual state meet records in the 100 free, 200 free and 200 free relay and 200 medley relay.

Her junior year saw four more golds — in the 200 free, 100 butterfly, 400 free relay and 200 free relay.

Last August, Simms represented the Philippines in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, competing against the best swimmers in the world.

She returned this winter to cap her high school career with four more gold medals, setting a record in the 100 backstroke.

Out of 11 possible swimming events, Simms holds the state championship record in four of the eight individual events and was part of all three relay records — an unprecedented feat in Hawai'i. She has earned 16 state gold medals and met more than 20 High School All-America standards.

Outside the pool, Simms graduated last night with a 3.268 grade-point average, including a 3.556 mark her senior year. She was a member of Punahou's Key Club, participating in school and community service, and gives swim lessons to kids at Palama Settlement.

Simms has received a full scholarship to the University of Southern California, where swimming team head coach Dave Salo calls her "one of the top five recruits in the country."