There is so much to say to you, but the first thing that comes to my mind is an immense feeling of gratitude. Gratitude for the person you helped me become – strong, an extremely hard worker, a leader, a teammate, a competitor. Gratitude for the people you brought into my life – my best friends, my coaches who inspired me every day and continue to do so to this day, the greatest teammates. Gratitude for my family – for driving me to countless 5 am practices, faraway meets, and always having snacks ready. Gratitude for the sport.
Little did my mom realize when she put me into swim lessons as a 5-year old what you would become for me. Even though I always did other sports, you were what I truly loved. The initial feeling of diving into the water while the sounds from the world disappear is irreplaceable. No other sport ever gave me the feelings of accomplishment after finishing a hard set that could only be matched by the feeling of enjoyment and love while putting in the hard work of practice. No other sport allowed me to train and compete with my younger sister on the same team until we went to college and then to swim against each other. I am grateful for those years where she was a constant companion to me in the water and out of it.
Our journey together was not an easy one. We had our bumps along the road – times when outside factors clouded my love for you, when hard decisions had to be made and I considered giving you up to pursue something else. But through it all, you remained there. A constant that was always waiting for me to realize you were what I loved. We really blossomed together these past four years when my experience with you was hugely enhanced by the fantastic coaches who believed in me and helped me see what I was capable of becoming, the best teammates for four years who each year molded a new team that would never be re-created, and the best competitors I ever had the chance to race against. Those four years really showed me how lucky I was to be able to do what I love, and I will forever be grateful that I chose to continue pursuing you at a high level.
I am grateful for the lessons you taught me that also applied outside of the sport. The discipline I learned inside the pool translated to success outside of it. Dealing with defeats in the water taught me how to learn and grow from challenges in and out of the sport and gave me the confidence to know how strong I really am. Learning how to be curious and ask questions about how to improve taught me how to generate a deeper understanding of myself and of tasks I take on in my life. You taught me that success is not always defined by the result, but rather the process and effort that got me there.
Thank you for the times I failed; for the defeats that taught me how to face challenges head on and move forward, for the injuries that challenged me to speak up and adapt to new types of training. Thank you for the times I succeeded – for the wins that left me speechless, in tears, and smiling out of pure happiness, for the countless hugs, high fives, pats on the shoulder, and celebrations. Thank you for everything in-between. I will always cherish the many memories I made with you. Being on a pool deck always brings me joy and a smile to my face and being around the people that you brought to my life keeps that smile going.
See you at the pool.