Diary of a Dolphin: About to Have a Stroke When Swim Season Rolls Around

When I was 9 or 10, I took a couple years away from water polo to focus on my stroke and become a better swimmer. I had no idea that within those two years of swimming laps in the Crown Valley Aquatics center, I would have even considered swimming as my passion.

Now, eight or so years later, I’m right in the middle of my fourth swim season at Dana Hills and I am about ready to jump out of my skin! When I trained at the Crown Valley pool my specialty was the 100 butterfly; if my swim coach at Dana Hills asked me to race the 100 fly, I would drown by the second lap. Thankfully, my coach understands my disabilities when it comes to swimming any stroke besides freestyle.

With the exception of being a water polo player first, I’ve found my swim niche and I race the 50 free and the 100 free at almost every meet. Looking back on the two years I foolishly exiled water polo from my life, I’m also very thankful at the same time. The stroke help I received has benefited me these 10 years later and when I’m in a race against a team of the notoriously fast Nadadores, I only fall a couple body lengths behind instead of a massive pool length behind.

In the end, I could not be more excited for the very last time I have to dive off a block in a straight streamline, or wear goggles so tight they send my eyeballs shooting out of their sockets.

Colleen