End of a Chapter, Start of something New…
I have been swimming competitively at a high level for the past eight years and been in the pool swimming basically since I could walk. After coming up just short of my Olympic dream four years ago by .03 seconds, I was unable to make the squad this year as well. After doing everything I could to be in the best position to make the team, I definitely feel disappointed and heart broken to come up short of my dream to make the Olympics. It has been a long journey with many ups and downs, but one that has shaped me to the man I am today and I move on now with no regrets.
Congratulations to my teammates Amanda Reason and Erica Morningstar in Calgary for making the Canadian Olympic team! Although I am disappointed to not be going to London, I will leave the pool as Canada’s best Short Course Breaststroker of all-time holding Canadian Records in all distances and a former World Record holder in the 400 Medley Relay. I will move on as Stanford’s record holder in the 200 Breast, 2-time NCAA Champion, 7-time Pac-10 Champion, and 4-time team conference Champions. I was a multiple Canadian National Champion and have competed at 2 World Championships and the Pan-Pacific Games for the Canadian National Team. Swimming has let me travel all around the world and build invaluable life skills and relationships. I hope I made my teammates around me better and brought out the best in people inspiring them to attain their goals and dreams.
There is a lot of gratitude I have for people that have helped me along my journey. First my coaches: Thank you to my age group coach Steve Wilson from Blue Tide Aquatics who first believed in my Olympic potential and helped laid the groundwork for my hard work and breaststroke success. Next to Stanford coaches Ted Knapp and Skip Kenney who instilled in me life-long character traits, motivated me, empowered me, preached team-first attitude, and turned me into a NCAA Champion. And to Calgary Swimming coach Jan Bidrman for all his personal attention and care and everyone at UCSC and in Calgary that helped me along the way. Thank you.
Thank you to all my teammates that pushed me to my limits and made me a better swimmer and person, especially the Stanford family. Thank you to all the people (Matthesons), corporations (SIACharts.com), Swimming Alberta and Canada, etc. for financially supporting me. Thank you to all my close friends for always believing in me and encouraging me along the way. But most of all to my family who has always been proud of me no matter what happens and always supported me in love. God has truly blessed me and I give him the glory.
This will most likely be my last swimming post as I move onto a new chapter in my life for the first time without swimming. I will take some time to contemplate my decision and next steps. I could be in the pool at some point again, but if I do swim again, I will probably just focus on SCM where I am still the top Canadian and competitive internationally. Thank you again to everyone who has followed and supported me. But as one door closes, another one opens. So now onto the Next Chapter…