PENN TWP — The odds are long.

Then again, so is Camryn Forbes’ window of opportunity.

The 17-year-old Penn Township resident leaves Saturday for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb. She will compete in the 100-meter backstroke Monday and 200-meter backstroke next Friday.

“I’m definitely feeling the nerves now,” Forbes admitted. “But I’m excited to go swim there, too.”

She will have plenty of company.

Nearly 1,200 swimmers will be competing for Olympic berths. Only the top two swimmers in each event — the top six in freestyle events because of relays — will actually make the Olympic team.

“My goal all along has been to get to the semifinals,” Forbes said of the competition. “I’ve got a better shot in the 100 back because my time is more competitive there.”

Forbes need only drop a second off her personal-best time in the 100 back to be in the mix with the top times posted by other swimmers in that event nationally. She has set the YMCA Long Course national record in the 100 back in both of the past two years, swimming the event in 1 minute, 2.54 seconds last year.

Forbes would have to drop five seconds off her time to seriously compete in the 200 back.

“That’s not very realistic,” she admitted.

Butler YMCA coach Alex Fertelmes said Forbes dropped her time by three seconds in the 200 freestyle at the Arena Pro Series swimming event last month in Charlotte, N.C.

“Camryn just keeps getting better,” Fertelmes said. “She is constantly challenging herself. She performed very well in Charlotte, approached her personal bests in the 100 and 200 back, and built some nice momentum for the Olympic Trials.

“Her best shot is in the 100 back. That’s her best event.”

Forbes placed in all four individual events — 100 free, 100 back, 200 back and 200 medley — she competed in at YMCA Nationals this season. She continues to practice with her YMCA teammates for the 2016 Long Course Championships, set for July 27-31 in Indianapolis.

Forbes has been a member of the Butler Y team for 11 years.

“During the summer, we swim two hours each morning Monday through Saturday,” she said. “We do double practices Monday, Wednesday and Friday. one hour of swimming at night followed by an hour of lifting.”

While Forbes doesn’t believe she’ll earn an Olympic berth next week, she is already with rare company in terms of Butler swimmers.

Stephanie O’Toole of Butler qualified for the Olympic Trials within the past few years. Besides her, “you may have to go all the way back to Eric Namesnik,” Fertelmes said.

“It is so difficult to get this far.”

And Forbes believes she can get there again. With her senior year of high school remaining — she does cyber classes and attends Knoch — Forbes is looking at the University of Louisville or Indiana of the Big Ten as her main collegiate choices.

“This year, it’s all about the experience,” she said. “I want to soak up every minute and compete as long as I can. Hopefully, I’ll be back in another four years.

“Four years ago, I never dreamed I’d be in the position I’m in now. I never thought I’d be heading to the Olympic Trials, that’s for sure. Who knows what position I’ll be in after another four years?

“It’s a reason to keep on working, I know that,” Forbes added.

Fertelmes said Forbes is “tapering” right now in preparation for the competition.

“We cut back on her training to get her muscles rested up, so they can be at peak performance next week,” he said.

With a full three days between her events, Forbes will have plenty of time to enjoy the experience.

“I’ll be able to get in the pool and practice every day, watch some of the other events, my time will be pretty open,” she said. “But I’m sure that whole week is gonna fly by.”