About halfway through the swimming season, Christopher decided he really likes swimming. A lot. He made it a goal to make it to County next year when he is 10 (he is in the 9-10 group so is one of the very youngest in his age group). He worked hard and really improved this year, shaving seconds off every meet.
He took a few lessons and briefly considered year-round swim team, but decided that would cause too much issue with baseball. Nevertheless, I think we're looking at year-round lessons.
All this background to say it was very exciting when we got a call from the lady that heads up our swim team to ask if he would be willing to help round out the 11-12 relays. We were short two boys and Christopher and Ethan were two of the 9-10s they thought could swim "up" so those two guys could go swim at County. He was so happy.
We went and signed up for one more lesson to work on flip turns and dives and just to get some time in the pool. Since he was swimming up, he would have to do two 50s instead of his normal 25s. Fortunately, he was going to do the free leg for the medley relay. We were feeling pretty good about things until we walked into the recreation center at Georgia Tech. Immediately the nerves hit.
The very thing that made this exciting was the very thing that made it so scary. It was big. It was full of people. And, it was the home of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games swimming events. Talk about intimidating.
He settled down and before long our two-hour wait was done and it was time swim. (I acknowledge the pictures aren't great. I thought basketball and cycling were hard, but at least in those you are either close or you have good light. Here neither. You'll just have to deal with it.) Christopher and I both really like this picture. It takes me right back to the moment when he dove off the blocks. My entire universe was centered right on him and the top part of his body. Everything else around me was a blur. I held my breath, hoping and praying he didn't hit belly first. I wonder if that's what he felt. (He didn't...not his best dive, but it wasn't bad at all.)
In the end our two 9-year-olds did phenomenal. Our team came in 7th in their heat...our two little guys had good solid Relay C times....for 11-12 year-olds.
Austin, their coach, was sooo proud of them. He was so encouraging all through the season. Christopher really enjoyed having him as a coach.
Soon it was time for the next relay. Christopher would be the anchor leg. I suspected he would be the last one in the pool...I just hoped it wouldn't be for long.
Then, he was in the pool. We were in dead last when he started. (There were some mechanical issues on the first leg. Poor Ethan's googles were slipping - very distracting for him.)
He swam his little heart out. As I watched I saw that he wasn't losing any time. I think he even made up some time on some of the slower lanes.
In the end, we did come in last but he wasn't that far behind. What a great experience, especially if he's still loving swimming next year as much as he is this year. Swimming in the Olympic pool...how cool is that?
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