To the One Always By My Side

chan-alexy-2015-ne-seniors
Photo Courtesy: Chandler Brandes

To the One Always By My Side

By Chandler Brandes, Swimming World College Intern

They say some of the best friends we will ever have are our teammates. Maybe it’s because we spend the majority of our time with them or our shared love/hate relationship with the sport, but either way, we all have teammates who have our back.

To the one who’s always there, thank you.

You get it. You get how demanding our sport is, how hard school can be, and how tiring the life of a student-athlete is. Even through the ups and downs, you remind me to have fun with this crazy sport we call swimming.

I can always count on you to get me through the hard meets, the harder practices, and even the hardest of weeks. And when all else fails, we will always have each other to eat Ben and Jerry’s straight from the carton with after practice, knowing we’ll work it off soon anyways.

You define yourself as a swimmer, but you recognize that we are people outside of swimming. We have our families and other friends and interests, but we will always have our sport to thank for connecting us so many years ago.

cal-team-day-1-prelims-2015-d1-mncaa

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Thank you for keeping me in line and giving me a reality check when I need one. You keep my ego in check, and showed my younger, more stubborn self that you need to work hard in order to see results.

You have been right next to me during some of my proudest moments, and thank you for always believing in me and supporting me, no matter what.

More importantly, you stick by my side during the bad moments. When the tears are pouring out of my goggles and I can’t form coherent sentences in between sobs. You’ve seen me at my worst, yet you managed to still stick around.

Thank you for always knowing what to say to make me feel better, and for knowing when not to say anything at all and giving me the space I need.

Mixed 200 free relay world record Team USA

Photo Courtesy: FINA Doha 2014

There’s no need to ask anymore: I know you will be the one at the end of the lane counting during my distances races, and please know that I appreciate you discreetly looking the other way when Coach yells “Shake it!” because you know I hate seeing that counter move.

You help me become a better swimmer and person every day, whether you realize it or not. Thanks for being someone I will always look up to and admire, in and out of the pool.

Most importantly, thank you for always being there by my side, even long after our days of staring at a black line are over.

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Lindsay Higginson
8 years ago

Jennifer Lynn

Jennifer Lynn
8 years ago

Lindsay Higginson ?

Abi L Young
8 years ago

Miranda Reetz

Miranda Reetz
8 years ago
Reply to  Abi L Young

❤️

Mary Lu Thralls
8 years ago

Right back at ya Pam!!

Pam Rolle
8 years ago

Mary Lu Thralls thank you!

Sarah Villeneuve
8 years ago

Justine Ricard ❤️❤️❤️

Justine Ricard
8 years ago

?????

Rachel Henry
8 years ago

Megan English

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