Sheri Hart – Regular Volunteer in Swim Community

By Emily Sampl

BOULDER, Colorado, February 4. SHERI Hart is a perfect example of what it means to give back to the community and put others first.

Hart, who is 36 and competes for Colorado Masters Swimming, volunteers at the Center for Women's Health Research, a charitable organization dedicated to raising money for researching cardiovascular diseases in women. On top of that, she coaches a Special Olympics swim team, works with mentally-disabled children in another aquatic program, and helps out at her daughters' school. In return, she earns the satisfaction of making a difference in the lives of dozens of children.

"All of what I do is volunteer work, which means I don't get paid. It can be difficult at times, but it's so rewarding," she said.

Volunteering has allowed Hart to set her own schedule and work swimming in where there's an opening. No longer training five hours a day as in her collegiate days at the University of Southern California, Hart has a new outlook on the sport.

"I was tired of it after college," she said. "I started swimming again when I became pregnant with my first daughter in 2002, and now a lot of why I do it is setting a good example for my children. Plus, there are so many life lessons that can be learned from swimming."

Hart's last major competition was in August 2006 at the FINA Masters World Championships. She was victorious in the 50, 100 and 200m backstroke and 100m free, while taking second in the 50m free; her swims in the 50 and 100 back were 35-39 world records. It looks like she'll be out of racing for a few more months though—Sheri and her husband are expecting their third daughter. But after that, it's back to the pool.

"I've never done a meet in short course meters before, and I think I can get back in some kind of shape by the end of the year and swim at a SCM meet," she said.

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