by Julia Cunningham, Swimming World College Intern
I love swimming for more reasons than I can count. One of the greatest perks I’ve found are the many types of people you end up meeting. First introductions are never difficult as there automatically is the commonality of being a swimmer. Where that relationship goes, then, is just up to you! The people I met through club swimming, I now find myself racing against in college. Because of swimming, I now know people from Iowa, Hong Kong, New Jersey, and St Lucia. I’ve met college entrepreneurs and future Olympians and everyone in between.
Here are four groups of people I can thank swimming for…
1. College Swimming Family
College was the first time I was surrounded by a completely new group of people in an unfamiliar setting. As soon as I got to campus, however, I knew I would have at least one group of people I could easily connect with. The swimmers took me under their wing and all too quickly we were like family. Maybe even closer. I know I will remain in touch with my college team well past our swimming years.
2. Swim Parents
More than once I have run into the awkward situation where I’m approached by a parent who knows my name, and I have no idea who they are. Swim parents are a species of their own. They form connections, alliances, while enduring those long hours in the stands that we have no idea exist. They find themselves rooting for certain swimmers like sports fans root for their fantasy teams. When you run into swim parents, the only thing you can do it smile and be gracious.
Photo Courtesy: Jen Enos
3. Life-long friends
My first year at Vassar I ended up meeting one of my closest friends…at the end of the pool…after a 400 IM. We met through our own swim parents, so before we even dove in for that race, we knew each others’ life story. As soon as we finished, is was as though we had known each other for years. The next year we were able to really bond as the only representatives of our teams at the NCAA Championships in Texas. While we only see each other a few times a year, swimming brought together this, and plenty of other friendships which surpass any underlying rivalry.
4. Coaches
Before I started swimming in college, I was approached by a coach who happened to be staying at the same hotel whose pool I was using to get in a few extra workouts. He had recognized my high school cap and wanted to know how my coach at home was doing. This wasn’t the only coach I’ve had with seemingly random encounters with. Just recently, I found myself practicing next to Sweet Briar College while on training trip. Cathleen Pruden recently wrote an article about them, so I of course had to approach the coach and ask if she remembered Pruden. I’ve found that the more I reach out the more comfortable I am with being that person who wants to know everyone on deck.
Swim friends are the best friends and Julia is the best swim friend! So well written, super star!!
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My dream is for my daughter to be a breaststroker for our alma mater, Vassar (I’m class of 1990). Congratulations on your great accomplishments there!!!