An Open Letter to my Support System

Photo Courtesy: Michele Bornman

By Ashlee Weingarten, Swimming World Summer Intern

Playing any sport at a competitive level is a hard thing to do. Without a support system, it’s a hard thing to continually push yourself. Here’s a huge thank you to all who keep my spirits high during the swim season.

To my coaches:

Everyone knows that without a coach, athletes would never be able to perform to their highest abilities. We cannot make the right practices to target strengths and weaknesses and we are not able to push ourselves the way a coach can. Thank you for always believing in my talents and for shaping me into the swimmer I am today. Without your hard work and constant dedication, we swimmers would not be able to compete the way we do.

To my non-swimmer friends:

I know it may be hard to understand why I chose to be a swimmer in the first place, or why I can’t just miss one practice or why I have to be at every swim meet. Thank you for being there anyway, and to those who sit through hours of a swim meet just to see a few laps: you’ll never know how much I appreciate you. It’s hard to put in to words how important it is to have someone in the stands for you. Sometimes my parents can’t make it to a meet, and even though I have supporters on the pool deck, it’s always a great feeling looking up to familiar faces in the stands.

To my teammates:

Whether you were part of an old or current team, you have been a huge part of my swimming career. I spend the majority of my time with you in and out of the pool. Bus rides are bearable because I am with people I enjoy spending time with, and whether we like it or not, we are a family. When we are on the pool deck, we set aside our differences and are there to cheer each other on.

Photo Courtesy: Michele Bornman

To my best friend:

Thank you for never abandoning me, whether it be at a 6 a.m. practice or when I have no one to eat lunch with. You are my bus buddy and my lane partner. Without you, I could never imagine making it through training trip, let alone the entire season. You are always by my side after my bad races and I wouldn’t want anyone else waiting for me at the end of my lane. Thank you for being my rock and continuing on with this grueling sport even when we both say we want to quit.

Photo Courtesy: Michele Bornman

To my brother:

I know swimming is not your favorite sport to watch, but you do it anyway. As we have gotten older and both of our lives have become busier by the day, I know it is hard for you to make it to my meets. I know you still support me each and every day. And the meets you can make it to are some of my favorites. I love sharing my results with you because I know you care and you want to hear about it. Talking with you about swimming is never something you complain about, and for that, I am forever grateful.

To my parents:

My parents are the only ones who have been there throughout my entire career. Friends, teams and coaches can change, but your parents will not. So, thank you for allowing me to continually enjoy the sport that was introduced to me at such a young age. I know that driving me to swim meets and practices was not what you wanted to be doing all the time, but you have always been nothing but supportive. The look on your face when I finally reach my goals in the pool is a constant reminder of why I still swim.

Photo Courtesy: Ashlee Weingarten

Support systems are an important part of anything you do in life. Without them, it is hard to believe in yourself and to follow your dreams. There are so many people that attribute to my success and I would not be where I am today without the help from all of you. Thank you to everyone who supports my choice to be a competitive swimmer; it truly means the world to me.

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Gina Marcelli-Munk

8 years ago

Love this!