The Beauty of the Goosebump Moment

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By Annie Grevers, Swimming World Staff Writer

Swimming. It starts out as a physical and social outlet. Then when we age up. Around age 11 or 12, we begin to realize the mental component matters– How on Earth do we control these nauseating butterflies? We begin visualizing so pre-race time is not so uncomfortable and/or so terrifying. In the teenage years, swimming becomes personal– a relationship that we love when times are fast and hate when times are flat. We give you so much, swimming, where is my return on investment?

If you do not find swimming to be emotional, pan across a pool deck at a championship meet. You see caps thrown, tears fall, hugs of celebration and relief, and moments of isolated mourning. But as you grow to know many personalities on the pool deck, you have the high honor of taking part in these friends’ and teammates’ victories. The smell of chlorine, the crowded warm up/warm down lanes, the stubborn barriers which you begin to think you’ll never break, are all mundane parts of the sport when you witness an inspired swim.

Michael Phelps, right, and Garrett Weber-Gale, both of the U.S., react after winning the men's 4X 100-meter freestyle relay swimming event on day three of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China, on Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.

Goosebump moments– they’re why 3.6 billion people tune into the Olympics. NBC presents an athlete’s story and enables you to feel an emotional connection to the athlete before they go and perform. In swimming, a sport that eats up a large percentage of our lives, we’re given an opportunity to know the back stories and have a deep emotional connection with many of our fellow performers. Perhaps not on the Olympic level, but that’s not the only place goosebump moments can occur. When we watch a teammate, we’re not just watching stranger participate, we’re taking part with them; we were there for every step of their preparation and, at times, were an integral part of their preparation.

Most recently, the swim that brought a natatorium to its feet and many of its occupants to tears was Katie Ledecky‘s 800 free at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Austin. At the 400, Ledecky was tied with her world record split (swum in Kazan, Russia at last summer’s World Championships). The announcer made sure everyone was aware of the history being unfurled in the pool. In the back half of the race, Ledecky chipped away at her previous world mark and touched in a 8:06.68– busting the 8:07.39 from last summer.

Forgive the blurred photo. I was shaking….Ledecky en route to a WR. Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

As captivating as her swim was, what captivated me the most was the whole-hearted engagement of the crowd, the coaches, and the swimmers watching the race. My goosebumps grew taller and more widespread until a glaze came over my eyes and I realized there were some tears fighting to come down my cheek. Wow. The power of sport.

I recently interviewed sprinter Josh Schneider and asked about the inner workings of his mind before races (check out SW’s April issue for the full story). One of the most compelling remarks Schneider made was about having a platform for his aggression. That may sound violent, but what he said made so much sense.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

How many times in life do you have something that allows you to push your mind and body to a limit that few humans are familiar with? We have a huge vat of water that affords us that opportunity– to uncork years upon years of training in 19 seconds or, if you’re Ledecky, eight minutes. But we all know going “animal style” does not produce the finest results; there’s an art to finessing your aggression in the water. And your own quest for that masterpiece is what riles up such immense respect in those moments when Ledecky breaks a world record, a teammate makes NCAAs for the first time, or an age grouper finally has their long-awaited breakout swim.

These moments would be special to the achiever even if only one person witnessed the feat, but the collateral inspiration is what elevates these moments in most swimmers’ memories.

NCAA and Pan-Am champion butterflier Kelsi Worrell‘s younger sister Taylor‘s (swimmer at University of South Carolina) favorite club swimming memory was breaking five minutes for the first time in the 500 free. Yes, seeing that she broke 5:00 on the board must have been satisfying, but what she most colorfully remembers is seeing Kelsi jumping up and down on the pool deck throughout her race, leading Taylor to think, “Wow, I must be doing well.” Then her big sister came to greet her with tears and a huge hug after the victory. Affected by her sister’s reaction, Taylor began crying too.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Emotions are wonderfully contagious in these triumphant moments. Why? Reaching a goal is so sweet, but seeing the effect that performance has on teammates, friends, and coaches makes the swim more than a swim.

I fought for four years to win an NCAA title in the 100-yard breaststroke. When it finally happened, the part of my memory reel that is clearer than any race footage is the looks on my teammates’ faces after I climbed out of the pool. Knowing my swim had evoked such joy and had possibly rallied some goosebumps made that race mean so much more than a singular ‘W.’

Whether you see Ledecky set a world record or a teammate grab a cut they’ve been longing for, you’re witnessing a piece of history. And many times, those bits of history are what inspire us to want to change the course of our own history. If jealousy is the only thing you feel when a teammate does something jaw-dropping, realize you’re part of their swimming story. Harboring resentment in these moments does nothing for you and will stick in the memory of those basking in a hard-earned victory.

Be part of their precious memory. Let greatness inspire greatness. Catalogue these goosebump moments– they are a beautiful part of our sport.

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David Estes

8 years ago

I teach journalism in high school and was also a very success swimmer in my day. The memories are still vivid and colorful as though they happened only yesterday. This article was beautifully written and gave me some new goosebumps to push through the week. I love both the art and the beast-like emotion of competitive sport. Thanks for reminding me why I swam and why I have coached as well. Now, take your mark…

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Annie Grevers

8 years ago

Reply to David Estes

Thank you for reading, David. Keep the goosebumps coming. 🙂

Sonya Herrera

8 years ago

What a great article Annie. Very nicely done. I think that Katie will give the world many more goosebump moments.

Poropat

8 years ago

Outstanding!!