Swimming is my life. Well, OK, I have friends, family, and I did this whole thing last year where I went away to college. Even passed all my classes! But in the pool is where I'm truly happy. And I'm good. It's my swimming that got me admitted to Big State with a scholarship, and it's been the reason for the only traveling I've ever done, from state and regional competitions in high school to meets in college.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not headed to the Olympics or anything. Those athletes are my heroes. I was watching old video of Janet Evans at the 1988 Olympics when I first became obsessed with the sport as a little girl. My current favorite is Kaitlin Sandeno - and not just because we share the same first name. I've watched her medal-winning performance in the 400 IM from the 2004 Olympics so many times, and I always imagine I'm channelling her when I compete in that same event, which happens to be my specialty.
My high school coach always used to say that the IM (individual medley) was the most challenging event in swimming - requiring the swimmer to incorporate all four strokes into one race - because it requires a balance of skill, speed, and endurance that few athletes can harness. I think it was my talent for the event that brought me so much of his attention; Alex had been more than a coach to me, he was really a mentor.
It was Alex I was hoping to see that day. I had just flown back into town yesterday, gotten settled at my folks' house for the summer, and was eager to share the accomplishments of my first year of college swimming with my old coach. Since it was still late May, I figured I'd find him on his usual schedule, working with a couple of athletes in the pool after school.
Obsessed swimmer that I was, I wore my suit under my clothes, on the off-chance that he'd challenge me to a swim, or offer a chance for me to show off for his current students. As I walked into the building, smelling the familiar chlorine, hearing the sounds of swimmers splashing through the pool, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and paused for a moment, realizing how much I'd changed over the past year.
My figure had changed - I was stronger and leaner after my more intense college workouts, but much to my delight, my tits had grown a little fuller. I was practically bursting out of my racing suit - so much so that I had chosen a more feminine suit to wear today, with C-cup support. I had let my naturally blonde hair grow long, so that instead of framing my face as it had last spring, it now traced down over my shoulders and came to rest over my tits and reached half-way down my back.
The weather was warm, so I had chosen to wear nothing but a sundress over my suit, the teal-green spandex which vaguely complemented my eyes showing through the light white cotton fabric. And I was more tan than I had ever been in my life, as the workout pool at Big State was outdoor, so I'd been spending several hours a day in the spring sun. It was then that his voice interrupted my self-absorbed stare into the mirror.
"Kaitlin, is that you? My god, you look so... so grown up!"
"Hi Alex," I said with a smile, welcoming the big bear hug that I knew was coming. It might sound strange that I called him by his first name, but Alex was a coach who worked hard to break down any artificial barriers between himself and his athletes. He once told me that he figured he needed a name short enough for students to get out even when they were breathless from dozens of laps.
"Wow, you really do look great! Please, come sit by the pool - these kids have a couple more laps to do, but I'd love to hear all about your first year at Big State!"
I took off my sandals and sundress, lowered myself to the edge of the pool, and dipped my feet in the water, watching as he lectured one athlete and high-fived the other, and then sent them both off to the locker room with his usual "keep it up, see you tomorrow!"
Smiling again as he dove in and swam over to me, I began sharing all of my great swimming stories as soon as his head was above water. Much to my surprise, Alex had followed my meets, keeping track of my times, watching my progress. He was proud of my accomplishments, but still aware of my weaknesses.
"So, Kaitlin, it was great to see you win that race at regionals, but I noticed you still haven't gotten past your plateau time on the 400 IM. What's the hang-up?"
"Jeez, you know me too well. It's still my turns. I'm too concerned about technique as I transition from one stroke to the next, and it's slowing me down. It still doesn't flow."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"Well, it would be great if you're up for one of our races. I'm sure I can beat you now, and that would be a cool confidence builder."
"Oh, I see, one year of college and you think I'm too old to keep up with you now?"
One of Alex's best coaching techniques was that he was willing to compete against his students, and even though he was probably about 40 and no longer as fast as he used to be, he was still in fabulous swimming shape, and was still more disciplined and skilled than most kids. It was cool that he was willing to get in the next lane and work hard, but it also showed me where the weak points were in my race. I was sure I could take him now, something I'd never been able to do while still in high school.
We did the full 400 IM, and much to my disappointment, I fell behind him on each turn, and was a full body-length behind by the time we finished. Seeing the disappointment in my eyes, Alex offered his condolences, "Hey, Kaitlin, don't be too hard on yourself. You should have had that beautiful long hair of yours up in a cap, I'm sure it slowed you down. And hey," he said with a wink, "those turns of yours are even worse than you had described them - I think you've suffered in your time away from me!"
I giggled, as I always did at his humor, and he proceeded to work with me on the turns, having me do each one for him in slow motion as he encouraged me to make small adjustments to my form. "Do you mind if I touch you, Kaitlin? I never go there with my high school athletes, but if you're OK with it now, I think it would really help?"
