I just need to swim.

I put on my water polo sweatshirt the other night and almost cried because I could smell the chlorine and I missed it so much. I miss the hours in the sun and the smell of sunscreen. I miss going out to eat after games and the long car rides home. I miss my tanned skin and my biceps and triceps. I even miss morning practices. I miss the victories, and the times we came together after losses. I miss singing the alma mater while treading water. I miss the sound of the ball hitting the back of the cage. I miss water polo and I miss swim. I miss my coaches (not all of them). Most of all, I miss my team.

I swam today..and I decided I’m not gonna stop.

The swimming pool. It’s where I found two of my greatest loves: water polo and swimming.  It’s where a group of guys and girls came together, hoping for a chance to shine, and became a family.  It’s where I saw my first crush, where I met my best friends, and where my water polo team became my sisters.  It’s where we fought for each other, because we realized that we were playing for something bigger than ourselves.  It’s where I laughed so hard I thought I might drown, shed tears, and pushed through the pain.  It’s where I played and where I worked out.  It’s where I pushed my limits further than I even knew I could.  It’s where records were broken, egos were shattered, and strength and confidence was built.  It’s where we lost and where we won.  It’s where we became champions.
We have wonderful friendships on our team and always look forward to being in the water with our sisters. There is a feeling of togetherness that is shared among us. When we are in the water, we leave everything else behind. We feel powerful and in control. We feel strong and healthy. It does not matter if we come first or last, because we are already winners. We have each other.
Water polo