The Swimming Race
Isabel Kelly
Even though, as a competitive swimmer, I competed in many events, I still remember this one specific race when things didn't go as expected. It was at the end of summer when all the major competitions were happening. I was one of the best swimmers in
That whole summer I had worked harder than ever. My times were improving and I felt that all the hours of training in the gym and the pool were starting to pay off. All of a sudden, two days before the race, I felt a slight pain in my left shoulder. At first, I didnít pay much attention. I was sure that, just as many other nagging pains I had experienced in the past, it would go away. But this pain was different and it kept getting more and more intense.
At first, my coach didnít want to listen to me. He acted like if he ignored me, the pain would go away. I was in such state of disbelief that I didnít want to confront him either. I couldnít believe that the day of the race was coming and there I was, sitting on the bleachers, staring at the water while all the other swimmers went back and forth in their lanes. I was too numb for tears, so I sat and stared.
The doctor ruled out anything serious and had no explanation for the pain. He moved my arm up, down and sideways. I grimaced each time my arm went above my shoulder. He applied pressure on different areas, and each bone and muscle felt in place. In the end, since he couldnít detect a serious injury, he cleared me to swim. Yet, as much as I tried to ignore the pain, I could feel the tightness each time I reached forward with my arms in the water.
The day of the race came. I jumped in the water and did a soft warm up. Deep inside my chest, my heart felt heavy with fear and uncertainty. My coach tried to calm me down and kept stating his mantra that dropping out was not an option. I silently agreed with him. I had come this far in my training and now I needed to prove to myself that I was ready to compete.
ìSwimmers for the 100 meters butterfly report to the starting area,î the voice came from the announcer. I walked to the starting block determined to only allow positive thoughts in my head and in my heart. I told myself, ìBreath deeply, walk confidently, shake your arms and legs to loosen up muscles, concentrate on the race.î
ìBoom!î went the starting gun. I dove in and all I could think of was pulling with my arms against the water. I could tell I was ahead of the other swimmers and that gave me the strength to go faster. Not once did I think about the pain in my shoulder. When I touched the final wall, I looked up at my coach and my parents. My coach with one arm raised up, holding on to his stopwatch and a big smile on his face. My parents hugging each other and anyone who was sitting around them. I realized that I had won and the thought of a painful shoulder was a distant memory.
Many years have passed, and I still remember this race. I learned that sometimes when you work hard to accomplish a goal, nerves and insecurities may play games with your mind. We worry about failing, or not fulfilling expectations. We doubt ourselves and want to find a way to escape. And of course we are not consciously aware of the many ways that fear can manifest itself. Iím glad that I had people around me who believed in me and would not let me quit. I wonder now, if I had decided not to swim, would I still remember that day?