I'd like to tell you about the fantastic swim season that my son, Chris had. His goal going into the 2001 season was to win at all 3 swim league conferences/meets and possibly break the a Larkey club team record, unbroken since 1985.
I'm proud of how he worked for seven years and went from "being afraid to get into the water" at the age of 7 to winning "First Place" in the 2001 Contra Costa County Championship Meet (comprised of 60+ teams) for 13-14 Boys' 50yd Breaststroke.
After years of watching his contenders through the years and working to perfect his favorite stroke, Chris went into the season with high expectations since he was one of the top seeded breaststrokers in the Walnut Creek Swim Conference (league that the Larkey Sharks belong to). His fiercest competitors in the entire league were his own teammates. In the past, he always managed to do well but then bow to pressure at the finals. He was always so close but yet so far from placing in the top 3. Would this year be different?
He managed to maintain the lead all season. In the preliminaries of the second big swim event of the season (WC Swim Conference), he finally broke a Larkey team record dating back to 1985. Unfortunately, he did not hold that record long because in the finals, his own teammate and biggest competitor, Richie G. not only took the first place but broke the record that Chris held for only 2 hours.
Chris had won First in the Walnut Creek City Meet but losing the First in that Walnut Creek Swim Conference was extremely humbling because not only did he lose the first place medal but also the entitlement of getting his name placed on the team board and his place in the medley relay which he fought to keep all season. Well, like they said, it's not over until .....County Swim Championship which was a week later. Will Chris regain his lead?
After a week of emotional and mental strengthening, Chris went to the County Meet with determination and came in first in the preliminaries "by a fingernail" lead. In the finals, he burst thru the second lap and not only broke and recaptured his recordbreaking status AGAIN but captured the gold medal with a substantial lead (0.30 second). Well, 2 out 3 First place medals and two record breakers in a season; I can't complain. That insured placement of his name on the team record board which he so greatly desired. It was a great conclusion to the most exciting swim season for him.
It comes to show if you desire something bad enough and you are willing to persevere towards that goal, eventually you will achieve it.