An Ode To Swimming

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Photo Courtesy: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

By Katlynn Emaus, Swimming World College Intern

Oh swimming how my body has taken your toll,
From the underwater kick sets to the 400s pull,
From the knots in my hair that cannot be undone,
The battle of not smelling like chlorine just cannot be won,
The endless time I have poured into you,
however, there is nothing I’d rather do.
The dry cracking skin and the hair with dead ends,
Oh swimming, you are lucky I consider you my friend.

bad-hair

From diving into the cold pool at absurd hours,
You have made me the opposite of a coward.
For all the times I’ve wanted to fuss,
Your name is the one I would always cuss,
But I would never trade my time in the pool,
To attend the parties that would make me ‘cool’,
For I know that what I have given to this sport,
I will receive back much much more,
From those deep chats with coach that I consider priceless,
My life without you would be pointless,
The family I have gained through my teammates,
Make up for all the times that I say this is a sport I hate,
I am much more mentally sharp from my experiences in the water,
You could eventually consider swimming my alma mater.

Photo Courtesy: Matt Riley

Oh swimming, through you have I have learned to never take anything for granted,
Not everyone has this advantage,
to be involved in a sport,
that teaches you so much more.
See, swimming is much more than staring at a black line,
It teaches athletes that life lessons that are very fine.
Trust, determination, resilience, and focus– just to name a few.
The pool is the best medication for when I’m feeling blue,
The moment of pure bliss when you accomplish your goals,
Now that is the power that swimming holds,
To push yourself to limits unknown,
So at the state meet you can bring home the gold.

Jul 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Kelsi Worrell , Katie Meili and Natalie Coughlin of the United States celebrate after winning the women's swimming 4x100m medley final during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel/USA Today Sports Images

When my final days of swimming come to end,
I am glad I had swimming as a friend.
The memories made will never be forgotten,
Like that one time Nick tried to make that hook shot go in,
Or that one time the team road tripped to North Carolina,
Or that time we dressed as the Great Wall of China,
Or that time I missed that cut at the last chance meet,
Boy I bet you thought you had me beat,
But swimming, remember what you taught me?
I will never give up, because of you, that is key.

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