Cody Miller Proves Once Again Why He is ‘The Unicorn’
He isn’t on the pool deck as often as he used to be, but when he shows up, something special always seems to happen.
This is Cody Miller, whom coach Ray Looze has dubbed, “The Unicorn.”
The Unicorn was on full display at U.S. Nationals, swimming his fastest time in five years in the 100 breaststroke at U.S. Nationals.
“Before the meet started, I hadn’t seen Ray in like four days. He was like, ‘You are like a unicorn, man. … I see you so rarely that you are a mythical creature. I don’t know if I believe in you, then you pop up and do cool stuff.’ … So I was like, ‘OK Ray, I will be your unicorn.”
The special moment was finishing fourth in the 100 breaststroke in Indianapolis.
Not many get so excited for fourth place at U.S. Nationals, but for Miller, it was a huge feat – not the place, but the time.
Cody Miller. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Miller broke a minute for the first time in five years, something he has been aiming for.
“My whole goal this summer was to break a minute again. The first time I broke a minute was 10 years ago, and it put me on the national team. It is not as fast any more, but that is a big barrier for breaststrokers, and I have not seen that in at least four years. How could you not be happy with that?” Miller said.
It would be a big deal for any swimmer, but for Miller, this is validation for his process as a 31-year-old father and former Olympic bronze medalist.
“It is about not taking things too seriously. I recognize that I have two kids and am really busy. I don’t swim as much anymore. There is a little advantage of not taking things so serious. That is when I swim well,” Cody Miller said. “I have been up and down with swimming. Swimming has given me the best friends of my life, the best mentors of my life. I have found a way to get back in and have fun. People say that, but I really mean it. When you enjoy it, why would you retire? I want to hang on.
“There is such a grindy nature to our sport. Motivation is a trap. It comes and goes. You have to be determined, and that is not always there. Now, if I don’t want to go in (to the pool), I just don’t go in.”
So when he is in the water, he is always focused and extremely motivated. His home crowd helped in Indy, something he is looking forward to experiencing next year at Olympic trials, too.
“I got a good pump. I heard the crowd. It is really exciting,” Cody Miller said. “This is cool as is … but Lucas Oil Stadium (for the Olympic Trials) … will be like ‘Oh (crap)!'”
Love, love, love Cody!!